Starting a business is a brave leap. For local creators, artists, and service providers, making the shift from a personal hobby to a legally registered enterprise brings a completely new set of challenges.
How do you maintain excellence as demand grows? How do you adapt to new customer needs without losing your unique touch? Moreover, how do you ensure consistent quality in every single product or service?
To help our community answer these questions, our intensive 6-Week Business Training Series was designed to give local creators a comprehensive operational roadmap. Over six weeks, our participants rolled up their sleeves to study business strategy, marketing, financial planning, and scaling models. This program was not just about theory; it was a practical masterclass in moving from designing for family and friends to serving a broader customer base with complete confidence and structure.
The Grand Finale: Unit 6 Pitch Night & Marketplace Expo
The ultimate test of the program took place during Unit 6: The Pitch Competition & Last Day of Class!
To simulate real-world retail and business environments, we transformed the final evening into a live vending and marketplace expo. The energy in the room was electric. Every student set up a professional display space, complete with their actual products, branded materials, and marketing assets. Attendees and judges walked the floor, interacting with the owners, testing products, and experiencing live demonstrations.
The highlight of the evening was the Pitch Competition, where entrepreneurs took the floor to pitch their business concept. To celebrate their hard work and dedication, students who attended at least 4 out of 6 seminars received their Certificates of Completion—unlocking exclusive eligibility for ongoing group and valuable 1-on-1 business counseling to keep their momentum going.
Meet the Cohort: Innovation on Display
Our participants brought an incredible diversity of industries and passions to the marketplace floor:
- Deshawna Addy | T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care)
With 20 years of experience in childcare, Deshawna showcased the layout of her upcoming academic and social skills-focused at-home daycare center, which features dedicated learning spaces for infants up to age 5. - Nicole Brown | Mobile Bridal & Soft Glam Makeup Services
Nicole pitched her on-location beauty concept, demonstrating how she customizes makeup services to help clients look and feel their most confident on their biggest days. - Ikia Carter | Handmade Eyeglass Chains & Accessories
Ikia showcased her beautiful, custom-designed eyeglass chains, bracelets, and earrings, highlighting her direct-to-consumer shipping model and custom color palettes. - Ebony Jessie | Heels 2 Strut
Ebony shared her digital strategy for Heels 2 Strut, an online shoe and fashion boutique designed to help women walk with absolute style and confidence in sizes 5.5 to 11. - Melissa Johnson | Honeybee Party Prints
Melissa brought in stunning examples of her custom-engraved, laser-cut party decor and custom vacation items, proving her meticulous attention to detail across an array of materials. - Kimberly Marriott | Brand Strategy & Web Design Expert
With 8+ years of experience, Kimberly presented her communication and visual branding model aimed at helping small businesses and non-profits build a dominant web presence. - Keagan Maynor | Manifest Radiance LLC
Keagan’s station was filled with the scents of her expanded self-care product line, The I Love Me Mist Collection, which has grown from one signature scent (Rose Sparkle) to five distinct aromas sold individually and in custom gift baskets. - Lakiba Newbill & James Williamson | Premium Coffee & Pastries
This dynamic duo pitched a high-quality, community-focused coffee concept, bringing premium flavors, specialty teas, and fresh pastries to consumers at an affordable price point. - Ramon Perez | Ramon’s Mobile Tech & E-Waste LLC
Ramon, a cybersecurity student, pitched his legally registered tech startup. His mobile, storefront-free business model offers high-margin hardware repair, data recovery, and eco-friendly electronic waste collection. - Tiwanda Randolph | TMR Management & Services, LLC
Tiwanda presented a next-level approach to real estate operations, demonstrating how her cloud-based platform streamlines rent collection, background screenings, and maintenance workflows for landlords.
What’s Next?
Watching our students transform their passions into viable, structured business pitches was incredibly inspiring. Congratulations to the entire cohort for their incredible dedication over these six weeks!
Are you ready to scale your passion? Keep an eye on our upcoming newsletters for announcements, enrollment dates, and details on our next Turning Your Hobby Into a Business.