By Choya Amenkhienan
Sure, CIC has a number of amenities you can take advantage of as a client. The conference rooms, avocados, and strong wifi signal are great, but there’s even more you can do with your CIC access. Below is a list of 7 ways to get the most out of any CIC location.
Explore different areas
One of the many advantages of working at CIC is the access you have to some of the most talented, creative, and interesting minds in the greater Boston area. Make sure you regularly spend some time in different parts of CIC. Grab a specialty item from another kitchen. Grab your laptop and work from a different floor for a couple of hours. You’ll be surprised how many great people you’ll meet by simply being in a new space.
Attend Venture Cafe
All CIC members have regular access to the weekly Venture Cafe gathering. Even if you’re not a member, you can make three visits, after which you’ll need to demonstrate your value to and interest in the innovation community. Attending Venture Cafe on Thursday is a great way to network or catch up with friends and acquaintances.
Take advantage of perks and benefits
Our Benefits page outlines all of the perks and benefits that are available to CICers. We’ve developed partnerships with several companies to curate an assortment of discounts for products and services that help grow your business and improve personal wellness. Some of our partner companies include Amazon Web Services, Hubway, Zipcar, UPS, Brooklyn Boulders, and many more.
Explore community bulletin boards
The community bulletin boards on each floor are great tools to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on at CIC. They’re a useful location to see and post events, promotions, volunteer opportunities, jobs, press releases, or other general announcements.
Attend or host an event
There are all sorts of events at CIC. Everything from general networking get-togethers to hyper-focused discussions to free-flowing roundtables are regularly occurring in our spaces.
Are you having trouble finding the meetup you’re looking for? Create your own! Our Events team will help you find an appropriate space and even help you get the word out to increase attendance at your events.
Introduce yourself
Yes, we do have many events and gatherings for you to attend, but you won’t be getting the most out of them if you’re not engaging with fellow innovators. Take time to meet people in the halls of CIC. The smaller the world gets, the easier things become for you both professionally and personally.
Ask for and offer help
No woman or man is an island. Are you looking for a graphic designer? Do you need legal advice? Have you had trouble keeping up with your bookkeeping? Reach out to your Community Team or any of our other CIC staff and they’ll be glad to connect you with someone.
On the other hand, offering help or advice is one of the best ways to get to know your fellow CIC members. It’s also a great way to build good karma that you’ll likely need down the road.
*Bonus Tip: Check out KSA events
Our Cambridge clients should definitely take advantage of Kendall Square Association (KSA) events. The KSA is an organization that is committed to promoting the health, vitality, and vibrancy of Kendall Square. They host a variety of events ranging from game makers’ meetups to BBQ Tailgate parties. If you’re around the Cambridge area, it’s always a good idea to stop by one of their events and expand your network.
