Startup Lakewood — a new non-profit organization in Lakewood geared toward helping businesses get off the ground — hosted another of its monthly events on Tuesday at the Lakewood Public Library.

Mike Belsito, the director of ideation for Startup Lakewood, was joined onstage by serial entrepreneur Blake Squires who told the nearly two-dozen in attendance to perfect the pitch.

Startup Lakewood hopes to help people who have ideas for new products or businesses — yet need additional support and resources — to bring those ideas to life. 

“The whole purpose of this is to inspire entrepreneurship in the city — to make the city a more entrepreneurially friendly place,” Belsito said recently. 

Tuesday’s event was just one of many that the organization has scheduled.

Every other week, the group will meet at Bela Dubby for focused meetings to brainstorm business ideas in a program the organization is calling Ideation Sessions. Along with Belsito, special guests and soon-to-be-entrepreneurs will meet to talk.

The group will meet each month for Startup U events, featuring speakers and resources for entrepreneurs in Lakewood. 

Startup Lakewood is a collaborative partnership with the city, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, LakewoodAive and Pillars of Lakewood.

For more information on Startup Lakewood, visit the organization's website.