Empower Business Connection

What Empower Business Connection does

Empower Business Connection is a Connecticut-based business association that operates a structured networking, mastermind, and coaching ecosystem targeting entrepreneurs, small business owners, executives, and professionals across multiple industries. Founded in 2009, the company is organized as a strategic division of The Modern Observer Group, also founded by Eric Lopkin in 2009, which supplies the underlying strategy, structure, and execution frameworks used across all programs. The service portfolio includes Empower Professional Networking (a recurring virtual Zoom group), Empower Women's Network (a monthly face-to-face track in Middletown, CT), Our Breakfast Club (a monthly morning referral event), weekly facilitated Mastermind Groups, integrated business coaching, topical workshops, a weekly newsletter (The Empower Resource), corporate keynote speaking by Eric Lopkin, and sponsorship packages for newsletter, webinar, and live event audiences.

The company has no proprietary technology platform. Its core technology stack is WordPress for the website and Zoom for virtual events and mastermind sessions. The two proprietary assets are descriptive coaching frameworks: the Human Centered Achievement methodology, which places individuals at the center of professional and personal success, and the PACE Process (Plan, Act, Communicate, Enjoy), a four-phase execution framework applied inside mastermind sessions. These are brand- and methodology-level differentiators rather than technical IP.

Empower Business Connection monetizes through five distinct streams: recurring membership and subscription fees for networking events and mastermind groups, advertising and sponsorship revenue from newsletter, webinar, and live event packages, professional services fees for workshops, professional services fees for Eric Lopkin's keynote speaking engagements, and sponsorship-driven brand visibility programs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments include entrepreneurs and small business owners as the primary persona, with secondary segments in executives, women entrepreneurs, and horizontal professionals across sales, finance, legal, healthcare, real estate, and trades. Geographic scope is regional, centered on Connecticut, despite the Zoom-enabled virtual delivery model.

Name

Empower Business Connection

Website

https://empowerbusinessconnection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Empower Business Connection is a Connecticut-based business association that delivers networking events, mastermind groups, business coaching, and workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners. A division of The Modern Observer Group founded in 2009, it serves regional clients via the Human Centered Achievement framework and PACE Process.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAFAMAN

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Career Guidance, College Admissions & Student Success Platforms

Keywords

• Business networking events
• Mastermind group services
• Business coaching programs
• Professional development workshops
• Entrepreneur community building

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Networking Events: Revenue from membership fees for networking event attendance and related programs for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
2. Mastermind Groups: Weekly facilitated peer advisory groups for business owners, executives, and professionals. Combines peer group dynamics with coach-led facilitation.
3. Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for newsletter advertising, webinar/virtual event sponsorship, and live networking event sponsorship targeting business leaders and decision-makers.
4. Keynote Speaking: Eric Lopkin serves as keynote speaker for corporate events and conferences, delivering presentations on time management, productivity, and mindset of success.
5. Workshops: Educational workshops covering topics such as social media usage, time management, and goal setting for entrepreneurs and professionals.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Empower Business Connection provides networking events, mastermind groups, and one-on-one business coaching for entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking to grow professionally and personally. The company also delivers workshops, publishes a newsletter, accepts event sponsorships, and offers keynote speaking engagements, all built around its proprietary Human Centered Achievement framework and the PACE Process.

Product overview

Empower Business Connection is a high-performance business networking and coaching ecosystem powered by The Modern Observer Group, offering a portfolio of interconnected services designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The core offerings include multiple networking event formats (Empower Professional Networking, Empower Women's Network, and Our Breakfast Club), facilitated Mastermind Groups running weekly on Zoom, integrated business coaching programs, webinars and workshops, a weekly newsletter (The Empower Resource), sponsorship opportunities, and keynote speaking services featuring Eric Lopkin. All programs are backed by the Human Centered Achievement framework and the PACE Process (Plan, Act, Communicate, Enjoy) for structured execution. This is not a software platform but a service-based business development ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Networking Events Organized networking events designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners to build professional relationships, share leads, and connect with peers. The events are held in-person and virtually, targeting individual professionals seeking to grow their business network.
• Mastermind Groups Subscription-based mastermind groups that bring together cohorts of entrepreneurs and small business owners for structured peer accountability, collaborative problem-solving, and guided growth work. Members typically pay recurring fees to participate in ongoing group sessions.
• Business Coaching One-on-one business coaching services for entrepreneurs and small business owners, leveraging the company's proprietary Human Centered Achievement framework and the PACE Process methodology to support client growth and accountability. Available as individual sessions or coaching packages.
• Workshops Standalone training workshops covering business growth, networking skills, and personal development topics for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Typically delivered as single or multi-session paid events.
• Newsletter Email newsletter providing business growth insights, event announcements, and curated content to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Distributed via email subscription and serves as a content-marketing channel for the company.
• Keynote Speaking Keynote speaking engagements delivered by the founder and team at external events, conferences, and corporate gatherings, covering entrepreneurship, business growth, and human-centered achievement topics. Sold as a booked service for event organizers.
• Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship packages that allow brands and organizations to reach the entrepreneur and small business owner audience through Empower Business Connection's events, newsletter, and workshops. Sold to marketing, brand, and business development teams seeking targeted audience access.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Modern Observer GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Modern Observer Group is the parent company and driving force behind Empower Business Connection. It delivers the strategy, structure, and execution framework that powers all Empower programs. Eric Lopkin founded The Modern Observer Group in 2009, and it provides the Human Centered Achievement platform and methodology that underlies all networking, mastermind, and coaching services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Toastmasters International: Toastmasters is the largest membership-based organization for professional speaking and leadership development with global local chapters. While focused on public speaking rather than business referrals, it overlaps with Empower's professional networking and leadership development segments.
• Vistage Worldwide: Vistage is the leading peer advisory / mastermind organization for CEOs and senior executives, charging substantial annual fees. It is directly comparable to Empower's Mastermind Groups offering (facilitated peer advisory combining coaching with peer input), but at significantly larger scale.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is a global peer community for chief executives offering moderated small-group forums and educational events. It overlaps with Empower's executive/senior-leader segment and mastermind format, but serves substantially larger organizations and C-suite leaders.
• BNI (Business Network International): BNI is the largest global referral-based business networking organization with thousands of local chapters. It is directly comparable as it offers structured, recurring in-person networking events for business owners seeking referrals, though it operates on a much larger global scale than Empower.

Emerging players

• TIGER 21: TIGER 21 is a peer membership organization for high-net-worth investors and entrepreneurs running facilitated group meetings focused on accountability, portfolio decisions, and personal growth. It is comparable to Empower Mastermind Groups in format and high-engagement model, but targets a higher-wealth segment.
• Mindvalley: Mindvalley is a global personal development and entrepreneurship education platform offering cohort-based programs, masterclasses, and a creator-driven community. It is comparable to Empower's educational workshops and coaching for entrepreneurs, though delivered at much larger scale via online courses.

Direct peers

• eWomenNetwork: eWomenNetwork is a membership-based business networking and women's entrepreneurial community running local chapters and events. It is the closest direct competitor to the Empower Women's Network offering, with similar format (monthly events, referrals, women's business focus).
• Strategic Coach: Strategic Coach is Dan Sullivan's premium coaching program for entrepreneurs using a structured methodology and small group format. It is comparable to Empower's mastermind offering because both charge entrepreneurs recurring fees for facilitated, methodology-driven peer group coaching.

Others

• Mastermind.com: Mastermind.com is an online platform connecting entrepreneurs with curated peer advisory groups, providing facilitator matching and community infrastructure. It is adjacent/thematically related to Empower's mastermind offering, providing a tech-enabled alternative that competes for the same entrepreneur budget.

Regional players

• Chamber of Commerce (local): Local Chambers of Commerce provide business networking events, workshops, and member services for SMBs in defined geographies. They overlap with Empower's Connecticut-region networking and educational programming, though typically with broader civic rather than peer-coaching focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-business-connection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empower Business Connection