Open House · Wednesday, September 9, 2026 · 4–8 PM EDT · East Hartford, CT
The Mill Runs Again.
Connecticut's first privately operated AI coworking space — inside a restored 1887 mill on the Hockanum River.
Open House — September 9, 2026
Step inside the restored Burnside Mill. Meet the founders. See live AI demos. Join the founding community.
Last updated: August 2026
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
Location: Burnside Mill Complex, East Hartford, CT
Address: Detailed address provided upon RSVP
Parking: On-site lot + street parking available
• Waitlist members (priority access)
• AI-curious professionals & builders
• Small business owners exploring AI
• Parents, educators, & students
• Community members & neighbors
RSVP: Required via waitlist form
What to Expect
Our open house is designed to give you a true sense of what Burnside AI Labs will be — not just a space, but a community of builders, founders, and AI-curious professionals.
Every 30 minutes, founders lead small groups through the 6,000 sq ft space — exposed brick, 14-ft ceilings, original timber, arched windows — sharing the vision and buildout details.
Hear from Alexander (strategy), Michael (building & partnerships), and Dave (community) about why they're rebuilding this mill for the AI age.
3–5 hands-on stations: local AI agents, workflow automation, prompt engineering, and member project prototypes. One host per station.
Local coffee & tea from our planned on-site bar, plus snacks from Connecticut vendors. Informal networking throughout.
Get your questions answered about founding membership ($300/mo), consulting, workshops, proposing a class, and the weekly calendar.
Real-time zip + interest tags at each station — same fields as the website intake — so we follow up with exactly what you care about.
Sample Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | Doors open · Welcome coffee & tea |
| 4:30 PM | Founder welcome & vision presentation |
| 5:00 PM | First guided tour begins |
| 5:30 PM | Demo stations open · Consulting Q&A |
| 6:00 PM | Second guided tour |
| 6:30 PM | Workshop preview: "AI for Small Business" |
| 7:00 PM | Third guided tour |
| 7:30 PM | Founder roundtable Q&A |
| 8:00 PM | Event concludes |
Tours run every 30 minutes. Demo stations open continuously 5:30–7:30 PM. Schedule subject to adjustment; final version emailed to RSVPs 48 hours prior.
Behind the Scenes: Plan of Attack
The open house is the culmination of a structured 30-day sprint. Here's how the founding team is making it happen:
Workstreams & Owners
- Lock event flow: networking → keynote → "science fair" room-by-room tour
- Keynote final pass (Hartford Courant printing-press thread woven in)
- Confirm 3–5 demo projects + presenters (incl. live local-agent demo)
- Printed signage per demo station; host per room
- Real-time interest capture (zip + interest tags — same fields as website intake)
- Building prep: cleanup, layout, room assignments per Unit 201 zoning plan
- Power/outlets for demos; confirm internet adequate
- Restrooms, parking, wayfinding, accessibility
- Insurance / event coverage + assembly/occupancy comfort
- Tables, chairs, trash, cleaning before & after
- Registration portal + questionnaire (segments: builder / business / student / official / neighbor)
- burnsideailabs.com + cohortzero.org live as event hubs (Formspree intake)
- Social: LinkedIn pages, Facebook, content calendar for the sprint
- Personal invites — each member brings 2–3 people
- Mayor of East Hartford (Mike's connection; keep apolitical)
- Hartford AI Initiative + West Hartford meetups — observe, coordinate, recruit
- Universities (UConn, Goodwin, CT State), businesses, investors
- Goal: one anchor sponsor (covers catering + legitimacy) — the "underwrite the compute" pitch
- One-page sponsor ask
- OA → attorney post-session; 1023 by ~Aug 31; code of conduct draft
- Discord (or alternative) decision + standing up
- Drive/vault hygiene (shared brain)
- 48-hour follow-up email drafted before the event, segmented by questionnaire
GO / NO-GO Criteria
- Every workstream has an accountable owner with a due date
- Registration portal live with questionnaire segments
- Event flow locked; ≥3 demo projects confirmed with presenters
- Venue green-lit by Mike; insurance path clear
- ≥1 sponsor conversation actively underway
- ≥50 registrations: Full marketing push, public event
- 25–49 registrations: Proceed, scale catering, double personal outreach
- <25 registrations: Pivot to invite-only working session (no public launch)
What Happens After September 9
The open house is Day 1 of a 90-day plan to build a durable local community, practical AI education program, membership pipeline, consulting leads, and sponsor relationships.
- Thank-you + survey + next 3 events within 48 hrs
- Launch Wednesday Office Hours rhythm
- Free "What Is AI?" community workshop
- Saturday orientation/tour for prospects
- "AI for Small Business" discovery session
- 5 library/community + 5 education contacts
- "AI Safety for Parents" workshop
- 4-week Prompt Engineering 101 cohort
- Paid "AI for Small Business" intensive
- Builders night + parent-child build night
- 2 community distribution partners
- 10 direct local-business conversations
- "Kids & AI" + "Automate Your Operations"
- "Build Your First AI Agent" launch
- Small-business workflow clinic
- Educator listening session
- Private sponsor/partner tour + Q1 ask
- December project showcase + impact recap
Detailed 30/60/90-day action checklist and community engagement plan available on request. The weekly operating rhythm includes: Tuesday free workshops, Wednesday office hours, Thursday professional intensives, Friday institutional outreach, Saturday rotating community programs.
Reserve Your Spot
Founding members on the waitlist receive priority access details and a special invitation via email. Capacity is limited — RSVP required.
Join the Waitlist for Priority Access