Get Konnected!

What Get Konnected! does

Get Konnected! is a privately-held multicultural networking and connection organization founded in 2007 by Colette Phillips and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The organization operates an event-driven, community-led model that has been recognized as Boston's #1 Networking Group by Boston Magazine for five consecutive years (2022-2026). It serves multicultural professionals, women, and people of color seeking career advancement and cross-cultural business connections, while simultaneously serving corporate clients seeking access to diverse talent pipelines and inclusive brand positioning. Its core offering, GK! Network, produces recurring marquee events including A Taste of Ethnic Boston, GK Summit, Holiday Makers Market, C-Suite Speed Mentorship, Lunar New Year & Black History Month celebrations, and an annual Anniversary Celebration drawing 500+ attendees at venues such as the JFK Presidential Library and the Thomas M. Menino Convention Center.

The organization extends its programming through an interconnected ecosystem of branded sub-services: GK! EXECU-SEARCH (executive recruitment for diverse senior leaders), GK! Campus (university-to-employer pipeline), GK! Job Hub (job board), GK! Market (small business showcase), and GK! SPEAKS (thought leadership programming). The affiliated GK Fund, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Colette Phillips and Andre Porter, provides seed capital and two-year mentorship programs to minority- and women-owned startups through multi-state accelerator partnerships. The founder also operates CPC Global, a separate for-profit multicultural marketing and PR firm. The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital presence consists of a Wix-hosted website and standard social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube).

Get Konnected!'s business model is anchored in tiered corporate sponsorship revenue (Presenting Sponsors, Gold, Silver, and Brand Konnektors) with enterprise clients including Amazon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, PNC Bank, Eastern Bank, KPMG, Eversource, Babson College, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Events are offered largely free or low-cost to attendees, with revenue generated primarily from B2B sponsorship fees. The GK Fund supplements this through tax-deductible donations. The organization operates without disclosed external investment, appears self-sustaining through 18+ years of continuous operation, and serves a Northeast US geographic scope.

Name

Get Konnected!

Legal name

Get Konnected!

Website

https://getkonnected.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Get Konnected! is a Boston-based multicultural networking organization that hosts events and operates an ecosystem of programs (GK! Network, EXECU-SEARCH, Fund, Campus, Job Hub, Market) to connect women and people of color with career opportunities and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: The primary revenue stream comes from corporate sponsorships at multiple tiers (Presenting Sponsors, Gold Konnektors, Silver Konnektors, Brand Konnektors). Partners pay for brand visibility at recurring events, access to multicultural talent pipeline, and positioning as thought leaders in inclusive growth.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event attendance, ticket sales for signature events, and event sponsorship packages. Events like the GK Anniversary Celebration, C-Suite Speed Mentorship, and multicultural markets provide both community engagement and revenue opportunities.
3. GK Fund Donations & Grants: The GK Fund (501(c)(3) nonprofit) receives donations to support minority-owned small businesses and startups through seed capital, mentorship, and access to social networks. The nonprofit status enables tax-deductible contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Get Konnected! is a Boston-based multicultural networking organization that operates an ecosystem of programs including cross-cultural networking events (GK! Network), executive search services (GK! EXECU-SEARCH), student-to-employer programs (GK! Campus), a nonprofit startup fund (GK! Fund), a job board (GK! Job Hub), and multicultural marketplaces (GK! Market). Revenue is generated primarily through tiered corporate sponsorship packages sold to enterprises seeking multicultural brand visibility and access to diverse talent pipelines, supported by event ticketing and donations to the affiliated GK Fund 501(c)(3).

Product overview

Get Konnected! is a multicultural networking organization offering a suite of interconnected programs and services. The core GK! Network provides cross-cultural business networking events, while specialized offerings include GK! EXECU-SEARCH for executive recruitment, GK! Campus for student-professional connections, GK! Job Hub for job seekers, and GK! Market for small business promotion. The GK! Fund (Post Accelerator Fund) supports underrepresented entrepreneurs with capital and mentorship. Affiliated entities include CPC Global (marketing/PR services) and The GK Fund 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Signature annual events include the GK Anniversary Celebration, A Taste of Ethnic Boston, C-Suite Speed Mentorship, and the Employee Excellence & Engagement Summit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GK! Network: Cross-cultural networking events, named Boston's Best Business Networking Group by Boston Magazine.
• GK! Campus
• GK! Execu-Search
• GK! Fund
• GK! Market
• GK! Job Hub
• GK! SPEAKS
• CPC Global
• The GK Fund

Products and services

• GK! Network A cross-cultural networking events program that creates meaningful business and social connections among multicultural professionals in Boston, recognized by Boston Magazine as Boston's #1 Networking Group in 2022-2026.
• GK! EXECU-SEARCH Executive search and recruitment service that helps top companies and nonprofits diversify their senior leadership roles through targeted placement of diverse candidates.
• GK! Campus (Campus Konnections) Program that connects college students and new graduates to potential employers through university partnerships and networking events in the Boston area.
• GK! Fund A nonprofit social impact fund that facilitates access to seed capital, mentorship, and opportunity for underrepresented startup founders including women and people of color, providing a two-year tailored Post Accelerator Fund program.
• GK! Job Hub A job board platform connecting diverse and multicultural professionals with employment opportunities at well-known companies in Boston and beyond.
• GK! Market A multicultural marketplace program that showcases brands and organizations owned by diverse founders through markets and pop-up experiences to fuel small business growth.
• GK! SPEAKS Speaking engagements and thought leadership program focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and multicultural business topics.
• Post Accelerator Fund Provides seed capital, access to social networks, and two years of mentorship to cutting-edge minority- and women-owned startups through partnerships with accelerator programs in multiple states.
• 50 Most Influential People of Color in Hospitality & Tourism Annual recognition initiative that celebrates leaders of color and allies whose leadership, creativity, and resilience power Boston's hospitality, travel, and tourism industries.
• Employee Excellence & Engagement Summit Annual summit focused on reimagining employee groups as engines of relevance, resilience, and results, addressing topics such as executive orders, AI in the workplace, and mental well-being.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18+ years of consecutive operation with sustained recognition as Boston's #1 Networking Group
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• AmazonflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor. Amazon partners with Get Konnected! believing that building a welcoming and inclusive culture is integral to people doing their best work. They actively recruit from diverse backgrounds and take steps to ensure employees have a sense of belonging.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MassachusettsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor. Massachusetts health plan of choice focused on making quality health care affordable for individuals, families and employers.
• PNC BankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor. PNC offers a wide range of services for all customers from individuals and small businesses to corporations and government entities.
• Eastern BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Konnektor. The largest independent, mutually owned bank in New England offering banking, investments, and insurance with a commitment to understanding customer needs.
• Babson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Konnektor. Private business school in Wellesley, MA established in 1919, focused on entrepreneurship education and often ranked the most prestigious entrepreneurship college in the US.
• EversourcecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Konnektor. Fortune 500 energy company headquartered in Hartford, CT and Boston, MA with regulated subsidiaries serving more than 3.6 million customers in CT, MA, and NH.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Konnektor. Professional services firm delivering globally consistent multidisciplinary services with deep industry knowledge.
• Windwalker GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand Konnektor. MBE & DBE certified Security Risk Management firm headquartered in Boston focused on cyber security and physical security in private and public sectors.
• ActBlueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand Konnektor. Nonprofit building fundraising technology for the left, democratizing power and helping small-dollar donors make their voices heard.
• Harvard Pilgrim Health CareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand Konnektor. Not-for-profit health services company serving as a guide to better health for members in MA, NH, ME, CT and beyond with coverage for more than 1.2 million members.
• CPC GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor-profit multicultural marketing and public relations firm founded by Colette Phillips. Shares leadership and mission alignment with Get Konnected! while operating as a separate business entity focused on strategic communications, brand visibility, and inclusive engagement.
• Accelerator Programs (Multiple States)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGK Fund has partnered with accelerator programs in multiple states to identify promising startups with minority founders who receive two years of mentoring and services to help scale and grow.
• Partnering Financial InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGK Fund provides direct connections to partnering financial institutions who offer individualized small business banking services for startups and small business grantees.
• Meet BostonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial event partner for the 18th Anniversary Celebration and inaugural '50 Most Influential People of Color in Hospitality & Tourism' recognition.
• Massachusetts Convention Center AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner providing venue for the 18th Anniversary Celebration at Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center.
• NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Lunar New Year & Black History Month celebrations. Partnership for dynamic cultural and professional gatherings.
• JFK Presidential Library and MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for 'Communities Coming Together' event featuring The Includers program honoring white male DE&I allies.
• Associated Industries of MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Employee Excellence & Engagement Summit focused on reimagining employee groups as engines of relevance, resilience, and results.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ascend Pan-Asian Leaders: Ascend is the largest Pan-Asian nonprofit for business professionals, providing networking, mentorship, and corporate partnerships. It is comparable to Get Konnected! in its event-driven multicultural professional community model, executive leadership development, and corporate DE&I sponsorship pipeline.
• National Black MBA Association: NBMBAA operates a national membership network for Black business professionals with conferences, career fairs, and corporate partner programs. Comparable to Get Konnected!'s GK! Network and GK! Job Hub in combining recurring marquee events with structured talent pipeline and corporate sponsorship monetization.
• The Executive Leadership Council: The Executive Leadership Council is a membership organization for Black Fortune 500 C-suite executives and senior managers. It is comparable to Get Konnected!'s GK! EXECU-SEARCH and executive networking offerings through its focus on diversifying senior leadership and connecting corporate partners with high-impact diverse talent.
• ColorComm: ColorComm is a multicultural network for women of color in communications, hosting curated networking events, conferences, and mentorship programs. It is directly comparable to Get Konnected!'s GK! Network given its focus on cross-cultural business connections and event-driven community building for underrepresented professionals.
• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a global professional women's community built around events, mentorship, and a digital platform for career advancement. It overlaps Get Konnected! on event-driven networking and corporate sponsorship, while adding a proprietary tech layer that Get Konnected! does not operate.
• ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America): ALPFA is a national professional association serving Latino professionals and students through networking events, leadership development, and corporate partnerships. It overlaps Get Konnected! on multicultural professional networking, talent pipeline access for sponsors, and student-to-employer programming analogous to GK! Campus.
• Asian American Business Development Center: The Asian American Business Development Center provides networking, mentorship, and capacity-building programs for Asian American professionals and entrepreneurs. It is comparable to Get Konnected!'s combination of professional networking, executive development, and minority small business support through the GK Fund.
• Women in Technology International (WITI): WITI is a global organization advancing women in technology through networking events, executive mentorship, and corporate partner programs. It mirrors Get Konnected!'s structure combining recurring marquee events, executive placement, and corporate DE&I sponsorship across an underrepresented professional segment.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: The National Urban League is a large, established civil rights and economic empowerment organization with a broad portfolio including workforce development, entrepreneurship support, and corporate partnerships. It is comparable to Get Konnected! on multicultural professional advancement and minority entrepreneurship support (analogous to the GK Fund), but operates at far greater national scale and scope.

Regional players

• The Boston Club: The Boston Club is one of the oldest and largest professional women's organizations in the U.S., based in Greater Boston, with programming, leadership pipelines, and corporate partnerships. It is comparable to Get Konnected! on Boston-centered women-focused professional networking and corporate engagement, but is not specifically multicultural in focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_GetKonnected
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8eJXPtx4a88xQdfrEGiaeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/GetKonnected
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/get-konnected-
• Instagraminstagram.com/getkonnected/?hl=en

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 Get Konnected!