Founders, Funders and Ecosystem Builders!
Yes! Ferry reservations for cars open up in January. Reservations book incredibly fast. You will notice this is a theme for anything on the island in August, since that is peak season. Go to the Steamship Authority website to book your reservation. If you don’t get your preferred day and time, select a day closest to your date and then go on the waitlist for your date. The majority of the time, the waitlist is fulfilled.
If you are building a venture-backed startup, this is the right retreat for you to build connections and get access to funders and corporate partners. The retreat is focused on building relationships so you have the tribe you need when you need a fellow founder to talk to about challenges or recommendations. In addition, you can establish relationships with funders before you need to fundraise or secure customer contracts.
We recommend booking accommodations in Edgartown or Oak Bluffs, if possible. Here are two booking websites:
- Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce: mvy.com/stay/
- Martha’s Vineyard Lodging Association: marthasvineyardlodging.org
No. This is a retreat for a reason. We all need time to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate while developing sustainable relationships and learning new ways to elevate personally and professionally. You can leave your pitch deck at home!
Absolutely! This is an opportunity for you to elevate your life alongside your biggest cheerleaders.
No. The retreat will have sessions that resonate with all stakeholders (founders, funders and ecosystem builders).
Over the years, attendees have expressed deep gratitude for the retreat. Past participants have successfully secured funding, made career-elevating connections, invested in new companies, partnered with other businesses to deliver outsized results to their customers, and found lifelong friends. We can expect at minimum, one of the three C’s: Connections, Contracts, and Checks.
Yes. The entire retreat centers around networking and creating sustainable connections.
Right away! Most hotels and house rentals sell out months before the August Retreat.
You can take the Peter Pan Bus (peterpanbus.com), rent a car or rideshare to the terminal and take the ferry over. If you rent a car and want to bring it onto the island, you will need to reserve a spot on the ferry. See question 2 above for details. If you are not bringing a car on the ferry, you do NOT need to reserve the ferry in advance.
You can safely enjoy the Island’s trails and beaches by taking a few simple, routine precautions before and after going outside:
- Wear proper clothing: Wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck your pants into your socks when walking through brush or wooded areas.
- Use repellent: Apply an effective, EPA-approved tick repellent to your clothes and skin before heading out.
- Stay on designated trails: Avoid deep brush or woodsy terrain where lone star ticks actively hunt or gather in dense nests.
- Check for ticks daily: Do a thorough tick check on yourself, your children, and your pets every time you come inside from the outdoors.