A love letter to Saratoga
and a vision for the Saratoga creative community
Connect Saratoga connects Saratoga area creatives, professionals, and businesses through a homegrown online directory, Slack community, and in-person events.
About Connect Saratoga
What is Connect Saratoga?
Connect Saratoga is a homegrown online directory, Slack community, and in-person events for the Saratoga area creative community.
Read moreWho's behind Connect Saratoga?
This is a homegrown solo project, not some white-labeled solution airdropped in from elsewhere.
Read moreWhat is Connect Saratoga?
Connect Saratoga started out as an online directory of Saratoga area creatives, professionals, and businesses. The idea was to make it easier for people to find each other, to discover new ideas and new collaborators, to stumble across the unexpected connections that make creativity thrive.
In early 2025, we branched out by launching a Slack community, which quickly grew to over 1,100 members. That was followed by a series of monthly in-person events that bring local creatives and professionals together at different venues across the Saratoga area.
Today, Connect Saratoga is a vibrant ecosystem that combines digital tools with real-world gatherings, all designed to foster connection, collaboration, and community among the creative professionals of Saratoga.
Read nextWho's behind Connect Saratoga?
Connect Saratoga is a solo project built by someone who lives here, works here, and cares deeply about this community. It's not a white-labeled platform or VC-backed growth scheme. Just a useful little tool built for—and by—Saratogians.
I grew up in Saratoga. I've worked with startups in NYC and SF, but this project brings those tools and skills home. You might've heard me on the mic at the soccer stadium or seen me at a local meetup—this is my way of investing back in the place I love.
Guiding Principles
Cultivate "Digital Terroir"
Let's build a network with a sense of place — software and community imbued with the flavor and character of the Saratoga area.
Read moreSpark serendipitous connections
Make it easier to find creative kinship and encounter new ideas, despite (and because of) our region's size.
Read moreBroaden the definition of creativity
Painter or programmer, artist or accountant — if you're creating value, you're a creative, and you belong here.
Read moreCultivate "Digital Terroir"
Just as wine reflects the soil, climate, and traditions of its region, digital products can reflect the character and culture of their place of origin. We call this "digital terroir."
Connect Saratoga is built with this principle in mind. It's not a generic social network or directory that could exist anywhere. It's specifically designed for and by the Saratoga community, reflecting our unique blend of arts, technology, history, and natural beauty.
This means we prioritize features and design choices that resonate with our local community. We showcase local events, highlight local businesses, and create spaces for discussions relevant to Saratoga. We use imagery and language that reflects our region's character.
By cultivating digital terroir, we create a platform that feels authentic and meaningful to our community, rather than just another generic online space.
Read nextSpark Serendipitous Connections
In smaller communities like Saratoga, creative professionals often work in isolation or within small networks. This can limit exposure to new ideas and potential collaborators.
Connect Saratoga is designed to break down these barriers by creating opportunities for serendipitous connections. Our directory makes it easy to discover people with complementary skills and interests. Our events bring together individuals who might not otherwise meet.
We believe that creativity thrives at the intersection of different disciplines and perspectives. By connecting a designer with a developer, a writer with a photographer, or a business owner with a marketing professional, we can spark collaborations that might not have happened otherwise.
These unexpected connections don't just benefit individuals—they strengthen our entire community by fostering innovation, creating new opportunities, and building a more resilient creative ecosystem.
Read nextBroaden the Definition of Creativity
Too often, we limit our definition of "creative" to traditional artistic pursuits. At Connect Saratoga, we reject this narrow view.
We believe creativity exists in all fields and disciplines. A software developer solving a complex problem, an accountant finding innovative ways to save a client money, or a business owner developing a new service—these are all acts of creativity.
By broadening our definition of creativity, we create a more inclusive community that values diverse skills and perspectives. We recognize that innovation often happens at the intersection of different fields, and that some of the most creative solutions come from unexpected places.
This inclusive approach strengthens our community by bringing together people with different backgrounds, skills, and ways of thinking. It creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and learning, and helps us all see our work in new ways.