COMMONS KICKS OFF BUSINESS SERIES WITH WORKSHOP

Groton — CURE Innovation Commons is kicking off its free Accelerate Your Business series with a workshop this evening titled “Navigating Your Onboarding Process: Employment Law Basics for the Early Stage Company.”

The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Commons, 93 Shennecossett Road.

It will focus on the hiring process and how small start-ups can avoid “potential legal pitfalls.” The guest speaker is Mary Gambardella, partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP in New Haven.

She will discuss what can and cannot be asked on job applications, restrictions and requirements on background checks, the importance of documenting the interview process, and offer letters.

Those wishing to set up a 15-minute one-on-one meeting with Gambardella before or after the event should email ignite@ thamesriverinnovation.org.

To register for the workshop, visit curecommons.org/events.

The next Accelerate Your Business presentation will be held on Oct. 11 and cover company formation. The speakers are Paul Hughes and Evan Kipperman, also of Wiggin and Dana.

The new series is part of Ignite, one of five projects operating under the Thames River Innovation Place. TRIP is one of four Innovation Places statewide that CTNext selected for funding, and it has received a $900,000 matching grant.

The goal of Ignite, a partnership between the Commons and Spark Makerspace, is to provide educational opportunities and connect entrepreneurs, to spur new ideas and businesses in the region. Ignite is now reviewing candidates for its program manager position.