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Recently, a softly-lit Midtown Manhattan loft filled with food and drink has played host to a group of visionary people. The kibitzing collective includes many people who were recently part of the corporate culture, but were forced by layoffs to become unintentional entrepreneurs.

"This economy is creating so many people who weren't expecting to start their own business anytime soon but now have found it's a great way to take control of that they are doing," says David Berkowitz of 360i.

They also found lucrative skills and talents they had previously overlooked.

"I crochet items for pets mainly, and accessories for people," says entrepreneur Caren Crawford, who recently worked in communications.

Jordan Harbinger was an attorney but now runs a date coaching service that helps men gain social skills.

"We're a company that teaches men how to read woman and become more confident and charismatic," he says.

Image consultant Omotara Labinjo believes her new career came calling every time she went near a clothes rack.

"I would go into stores, and people would come up to me and say, 'How does this look on me, what do you think about this,' almost like I worked there," she says. "And I thought, 'Maybe this is something I could do as a career.'"

Amos Winbush started his data reconciliation business over a phone failure.

"Tragedy struck, my mobile phone crashed and there was no solution for me," he says. "So I set out to build a solution."

Part of the evening finds the people studying new business solutions from companies that sponsor the event, like Outright for bookkeeping and Network Solutions for web applications.

"Entrepreneurs are usually very creative and innovative so we are here learning from each other," says Elena Alexseeva of Photohand.com.

Those who think the entrepreneur route might be in their future need dedication to follow their dreams.

"To be an entrepreneur you have to have a delusional sense of self-confidence and believe in your own vision," says Harbinger.

"It's important to like what you are doing. It's not a get-rich-quick scheme, it's a job," says Mitch Stoller of Group SJR.

The gathering is part of a five-city road trip designed to reach out to those crafting a new career, unintentionally or not.