Last night’s Rhode Map Live event featured five Rhode Island business leaders – from a fast-growing startup to a restaurant owner to the chairman of Rhode Island FC – discussing what it takes to survive and thrive in the Ocean State.

If you weren’t able to make it last night, we’ve already published a special edition of the Rhode Island Report podcast where you can hear the interviews in their entirety. You can listen here.

And here’s a quick overview of what our five guests had to say.

Billy Thalheimer
Co-Founder & CEO, REGENT
Thalheimer said Rhode Island’s maritime expertise and state support made it the right place for REGENT to build its electric sea-glider company, arguing the state is starting to see a surge in maritime and defense startups. He said the company plans to open a large manufacturing facility at Quonset later this year.

Monika Zuluaga
President & CEO, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
Zuluaga said the biggest challenges businesses raise are workforce shortages, rising operating costs, and complicated regulations. Despite those hurdles, she argued entrepreneurs remain optimistic and pointed to growing development and business activity across Northern Rhode Island.

Sam Glynn
Owner, Chomp Kitchen & Drinks
Glynn described how difficult it is to finance and scale restaurants, noting the industry often operates on margins around 10 percent. He said Chomp relies heavily on data and AI tools to manage labor, food costs, and operations while still prioritizing hospitality.

Christopher Parisi
Founder & CEO, Trailblaze Marketing; Chairman, RI Small Business Coalition
Parisi recounted his own journey as a small business owner and launching the Rhode Island Small Business Coalition during the early days of the pandemic after seeing small businesses struggle. The group pushed state leaders to release tens of millions of dollars in relief funding for local businesses.

Brett M. Johnson
Chairman, Rhode Island FC
Johnson discussed the arrival of professional soccer in Rhode Island and the potential for the new stadium in Pawtucket to spark broader economic development around it. He said the team hopes to become both a community asset and a catalyst for growth in the region. He also predicted that this summer’s World Cup is going to bring soccer to new heights of popularity in the US.