Hey, Networkers! Guess what's hotter than the new yellow "Ask Me What I Do" sweatshirt in town? Our victory at the Flourish Fellowship for Entrepreneurs: Retail Edition, of course! πβ¨
For the past twelve weeks, we've been grinding, hustling, and building a community like no other. Picture this: entrepreneurs coming together, sharing war stories, and transforming into a tight-knit squad ready to take on the world. Shoutout to @villagemicrofund, @walmart, and @atlawbi for powering up this Retail Edition Co-Hort, where dreams turn into plans, and plans into reality.
Now, let's cut to the chase — we didn't just graduate; we dominated! My Networking Apparel proudly walked the stage as one of the three winners in the pitch competition, walking away with a check for $25,000. πͺπΎπ°
First things first, a huge shoutout to the big man upstairs for always having our backs. And to our community, you guys are the real MVPs. Your success stories fuel our grind, and we're eternally grateful for your support.
Major thank you to @atlawbi for making waves and letting us ride that entrepreneurial tsunami with you. And to the Village Micro Fund (@villagemicrofund), you're the unsung hero behind this success story, helping us turn our dreams into dollars.
Last week's graduation ceremony was nothing short of epic! The Retail Cohort, fueled by @walmart and @atlawbi, showcased the resilience, innovation, and pure entrepreneurial magic that happens when a community comes together.
Three winners were chosen from the pitch competition, and you bet My Networking Apparel was one of them! A surprise "BONUS IMPACT" from AWBI meant each winner walked away with $25,000. That's $75,000 for the three black-owned businesses — us, @kindredpapr, and @gannsjuices. Talk about a money move! πΈπ₯
We want to give a big thank you to the fantastic judges who saw the fire in our pitches:
- Jasmine Bowdry, The Mache Group
- Raghu Kakarala, Executive Vice President, Bounteous
- David M. Walker, Esq., Atlanta Business Attorney
- Marjorie King, AWBI
And here's the scoop — Village Micro Fund is on a mission to empower Black entrepreneurs through coaching, consulting, connecting, and capital. They're proving that communities can invest their skills, talents, and money to be the change they want to see. We're living proof!
Now, let's rewind to the class syllabus. The Village Cohort isn't just about learning; it's about transforming. We dived deep into our business model, crafted killer pitches, and left with more than just a diploma — we left with a business arsenal.
The main themes? Family, connections to the local ecosystem, storytelling, design thinking, and caring for the whole entrepreneur. It's not just about business; it's about a community that makes the entrepreneurial journey a bit less lonely.
Huge thanks to everyone who believed in us, from the warm-ups and connecting stories to the lessons, speakers, and interactive panels. We've got our eyes on those metrics: revenue increase, more sales, strategic partnerships, jobs created, new customers, and capital raised.
So, here's to My Networking Apparel — we came, we pitched, we conquered. Keep an eye out for the yellow "Ask Me What I Do" sweatshirt — it's not just a statement; it's a success story! πβ¨
