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Author: Alyson Gammons
2021 VelocityPress
[ May 3, 2022 by Alyson Gammons 0 Comments ]

Discover the Next Big Thing in Creative Entrepreneurship  

 

Center for Creative Economy receives $60,000 grant from Truist Foundation to help entrepreneurs develop viable businesses rooted in creativity

 

Winston Salem, NC, (April 10, 2023) – Center for Creative Economy announced it received a $60,000 grant from Truist Foundation to continue its outstanding work in Building Creative Economies through its Velocity Creative Accelerator program. The Velocity Accelerator helps entrepreneurs develop viable businesses rooted in creativity. This 10-week, cohort-based program includes a robust hybrid model curriculum, skilled facilitators, and a customized mentor team of subject matter experts from every business discipline. The entrepreneurs master business basics, solidify their positioning, and refine their pitch for a chance to win a portion of $20,000 in seed stage grants. 

The program allows facilitators and entrepreneurs to collaborate directly in a shared learning process that is crucial to CCE’s program evolution, allowing CCE to provide entrepreneurs with the business skills they need to make improvements. Cohorts exit the program with confidence, increased business acumen, and a team of mentors and advisors.

 

CCE’s mission is to strengthen the creative economy and its creators in Winston-Salem, across NC, and the Southeast. Since 2016, CCE has helped launch 80 creative startups in its accelerator, 61% of which were founded by women and 32% by minorities. Today, 80% of those companies are still thriving, and 289 jobs have been created. Our cohorts have earned $14 million in revenue and raised $21 million in investment. CCE continues to support these founders with mentorship and accountability as their businesses grow. CCE is proud to support women and minority entrepreneurs as our primary focus.

“We are thrilled with the financial support from The Truist Foundation and the vote of confidence from this leading foundation into the work we are doing to launch and grow creative entrepreneurs. We will continue this impactful work with their support and grow our base of sustainability for the CCE Launch Fund, and the Velocity accelerator.”  Margaret Collins, Executive Director 

“The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. We make strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities we serve have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Our grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. The Center for Creative Economy aligns with our mission.” Foundation President Lynette Bell

 

About Center for Creative Economy

CCE provides inception-stage business training to help artists and creatives establish their market value and accelerate ideas into action.  Our customized education and mentorship programs fulfill our mission to launch, grow, and accelerate viable creative businesses.

About Truist Foundation 

The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation. 

2021 VelocityPress
[ May 3, 2022 by Alyson Gammons 0 Comments ]

Creative Entrepreneurs Win Seed Funding and Resources for Growth at Velocity Accelerator Demo Day

Three east coast based startups will share $50,000 in seed-stage funding from the Center for Creative Economy’s Velocity Creative Accelerator based in Winston-Salem. 

The Velocity Accelerator culminated in a pitch competition September 30th followed by an Awards Breakfast on October 1st. The organization’s sixth annual accelerator brings creative startups from across NC and the US together to complete a 10-week entrepreneur education program to refine their business plan, marketing strategy, and prepare pitches to investors. The top three startups split a pool of $50,000 in seed-stage investment. 

Leah Wyrick, founder of Three Strands Recovery Wear in Winston-Salem, NC took the top award of $25,000, presented by Kyle Haney of Forsyth County’s Department of Community and Economic Development. Three Strands Recovery Wear is a recovery garment company with a current focus on post-operative bras for mastectomies and other breast surgeries. Leah was also awarded $2,000 in software consultation from Sightsource to further develop her technology, and pro bono legal services from Kilpatrick Townsend. 

Rahul Kulkharni founder of Sukhi in Washington, D.C. received the second-place award of $15,000 with their startup that is strengthening resilience in the modern workforce to foster corporate wellness, collaboration and reduce burnout. Rahul also received $1,000 in software consulting from Sightsource, and pro bono legal services from Kilpatrick Townsend. 

Running third, receiving $10,000, was My Relief Wear LLC, founded by Mary McElya of Greenville, SC. My Relief Wear is patent-pending cold therapy clothing that transforms the process of icing painful aches and joints. The garments provide freedom of mobility, thin anti-leak packs, and a fresh cool look. Mary also received $2,000 in software consulting from Sightsource, and pro bono legal services from Kilpatrick Townsend. 

Daryl Shaw, founder of Royalty Marketing, presented two marketing and social media awards for 20 hours of marketing services each to: 

JSQ Designs, founder Jenna Anderson, an apparel manufacturer that creates unique and inclusive button down shirts from scratch in Winston-Salem, NC. JSQ creates items that are unique and authentic for the customer.

Frogshop, Founder Malcolm Egun, of Newark, NJ, who has created software specifically for gyms to streamline their business mixing fitness with ecommerce. Malcolm partners with more than 50 dropship suppliers in the health & fitness industry and provides cloud-based automation that helps small to mid-sized eCommerce businesses automate and deliver products. Malcolm also received $4,000 in technology software consulting from Sightsource, 

Winston Starts President, Bob Boles also welcomed Frogshop and JSQ Designs into the Explore program, an 8 week discovery program for startups to get acquainted and develop inside Winston-Salem’s own scalerator. After Explore, the founders pitch to determine their potential for year round admission. 

Luna Creative, founder Cordelia Norris, of Wilmington, NC, a design and marketing studio that helps clients create positive change, with a focus on sustainability. Cordelia received $3,000 in technology software consulting from Sightsource, 

Each cohort member was also awarded a business coaching package from ActionCOACH – Team Hauser, based in Winston-Salem. 

Founders from 11 U.S. states and 11 countries applied to participate in this year’s accelerator. Of the 6 startups chosen for the program, 67% are run by women entrepreneurs and 50% are BIPOC founders. 

According to Executive Director, Margaret Collins, “The cohort made great progress during Velocity this year. They emerged strong, ready to launch and earn revenue. Our robust mentor pool deserves high praise for their customized coaching of each founder to deliver what was needed each week.”