Finding the unicorn

A group of 10 young entrepreneurs sat at a Mediterranean restaurant in Baldwin and stared at the pile of business cards in front of each of them.

“Da’Quan, your name is a bit small,” said Michael Rossetti, a magician based in Oceanside. He was critiquing Da’Quan Williams’ business card for the graphic design company he owns and operates, also in Oceanside.

The group went around the room and discussed ways they could improve their cards. Everything from fonts, colors and the amount of information on the cards was honestly addressed.

This was the topic of discussion during the Unicorn Network’s meeting on Jan. 5. The network, which is currently made up of roughly 70 members, meets every other week at a public location to discuss how they can help each other improve their businesses.

They are also all under 35.

Entrepreneur Jillian Weston started the Unicorn Network, in June 2016. Weston, 27, runs her own social media marketing company in Oceanside. She founded the organization after being unsatisfied with other local business networking groups. “The fire wasn’t there as much,” she said.

She also felt isolated. After starting her business at 23, she had trouble relating with other, older, business owners who had started their companies in a different era. “I felt like I was the only one going through what I was going through,” she remarked.

Although she still attends other networking events, she feels the connections she makes at unicorn meetings are more organic and meaningful than ones she makes elsewhere.

Networking is a process where professionals meet periodically to help connect each other with clients and discuss ways they could collaborate and improve each other’s businesses. “[The goal] is to use each other’s expertise and experience to help each other in our businesses; to get all of us to that next level,” said Weston.

The benefits of networking were on full display at the meeting. Williams asked music artist manager Jason Melker, if he had any bands that needed album artwork. Williams passed Melker his phone and showed him an example of his work on Instagram. Melker liked what he saw and the two exchanged email addresses and secured a deal that benefited both of their businesses.

“[It’s about] different people from different backgrounds helping each other grow with their experience and insight,” said Rossetti, 28.

Attendance is not mandatory, and although the group is made up of 70 members, usually only 10 people will show up at an average meeting. Typically, half are regulars and the other half rotate. “This is a network,” said Weston. “It’s not necessarily about coming to every meeting.” If people can make it, they can potentially get business and opportunities through the meetings. “If you can’t or choose not to, it’s kind of on you,” she explained.

The only requirement is that members run their own business and be under 35.

Participants claim there is a passion and urgency with unicorn members that is missing from other networking groups typically made up of older professionals. “I’m not saying other people from previous generations can’t innovate,” said Rossetti. “But it is easier to be innovative out of necessity.”

The necessity comes from them all being the masters of their own fate. “It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it,” said Brittney Borruso, 29, about running her own business. She lives in Oceanside and operates her own private practice law firm out of Long Beach. “It’s a lot more work than just being a lawyer but I can work with people on my own terms.”

Other members shared the same attitude. “I don’t want to create a job for myself,” said Rossetti. “I want to build a business.”

Weston came up with the name unicorn after someone once told her “Finding a young, passionate, entrepreneur is so hard to find, it's like discovering a Unicorn.”

Ultimately, the unicorns meet to better their businesses with the help of their peers. But they are also there to make friends. “At the end of the day, in business you want to work with people that you like and enjoy working with,” said Borruso. “It’s not just a superficial connection.”