In The Looop - 01.05.2026 Edition

Jan 4
3 min read

Cheers to 2026! 🥂🍾🥳 from “In The Looop” by Well Aware —Here to help you make new connections and keep them alive.

We wrapped up 2025 with a bang, and now we’re carrying the energy forward ~ nurturing new connections and staying close with the ones we’ve already made.

Connecting the right people has never been more important, and keeping track of those relationships can be tricky —but that’s why we’re here.

Our goal is to connect professionals, create valuable networking opportunities, and share them with you.

Welcome back if you’ve been observing In The Looop for a while ~ thank you for sticking with us!

If it’s your first time, here’s how to get the most out of this newsletter:

Reply with YOUR INTEREST in any relationships I share here.
◉ If you want to meet one of the people below, ASK!
>> Don’t hold back!
◉ Networking? Exploring business? All fair game.
>> Just be upfront. I might already have a heads-up on what to expect.

Reply with a CLEAR REASON WHY you want to connect.
◉ I need context to propose a thoughtful intro that actually adds value.

Reply even if you have NO interest today.
◉ Say ‘Hi’. Update me!
>> The point is to help keep our relationship alive and well.

That said, we present this week’s 5 thoughtful relationships that we know by heart: Relationships that sparked real conversations, opportunities, and ideas worth knowing about.

Keep scrolling to get to know them better — and who knows, you might be featured next. 😉

Thu Do helps early-stage organizations move from AI exploration to execution through hands-on enablement, workflow automation, and AI-native product development. She is the Founder of TAILORU Collective, a network of 40+ AI practitioners.

Thu is looking to connect with early-stage companies seeking practical AI adoption and communities interested in responsible AI talks, particularly in Vietnam and across Asia.

Introductions to founders, operators, or community leaders navigating early AI adoption would be most helpful.

Stephani Halderman helps health and wellness pros build websites, funnels, and systems that grow their business. She is the Founder of The Simple Growth Co.

Stephani is looking to connect with women solopreneurs ~ nutritionists, coaches, and practitioners, who need support with websites, membership platforms, funnels, or automation.

Introductions to practitioners, consultants, or partners who boost audience growth and follow-up systems in health and wellness would be great.

J.D. Sareault helps startups bring hardware products to market through expert product design and engineering. He is the Founder of Evergreen Product Labs.

J.D. is looking to connect with technical founders and product leaders at early-stage hardware startups, primarily in the Boston and Seattle areas.

Introductions to companies seeking consistent, high-quality engineering support or looking for guidance on product design would be most helpful.

Dan DeMarco helps companies streamline promotional product sales through operations and project management. Dan is the Founder of DeMarco Design Labs.

He is looking to connect with businesses seeking more efficient workflows for merchandise and promotional product inquiries.

Introductions to companies wanting better sales operations, inbox management, or project coordination support would be most helpful.

Darian Elmendorf helps addiction professionals and organizations expand their learning programs through structured training and content development. He is the Founder of Polaris Pathways.

Darian is looking to connect with organizations and professionals interested in creating or scaling high-quality training initiatives, content development, and marketing systems.

Introductions to partners who can collaborate on national outreach, program expansion, or learning product development would be most helpful.

We’re always open to thoughtful introductions within the Well Aware Network! ~➤ If you’re curious how people are selected or how to get involved, you can learn more here.

To follow along, subscribe to In the Looop or join the Well Aware LinkedIn Group.