Entrepreneurship
Academy
Whether you've already launched or have a side hustle you'd like to grow, the Own Our Own Business Academy has practical tools to help you succeed.
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Having a successful business is rarely the result of good luck, but is tied to building your knowledge and putting in the work. Are you ready to learn the skills you need? What are you waiting for?
NOTE: Our Standard Application Fee is $400 due with your application.
Interested in a scholarship? Click the link below to see if you qualify!
NOTE: Scholarships are income eligible.
Start or Grow Your Business with Confidence!
Articulate your business model
Gather & apply real-time customer insights
Get help with legal,
accounting, & more.
Gain valuable allies & accountability partners
What is the Own Our Own Entrepreneurship Academy?
The OOO Entrepreneurship Academy is a 13-week, cohort-based program that equips entrepreneurs of all kinds with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn ideas into action.
Participants enter into a facilitator-led, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of 10-15 like-minded peers. Over the thirteen weeks, they develop and fine-tune their ideas using the CO.STARTERS Canvas, critically examining every part and determining next steps through real-time feedback from people in the community.
Participants leave the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable venture, articulate their models, and repeat the process with the next great idea.
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Academy Schedule
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All sessions take place via Zoom from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
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Week 1: Sept. 12 - Your entrepreneurial "DNA"
Week 2: Sept. 19 - Customer discovery 101
Week 3: Sept. 26 - Customer discovery workshop
Week 4: Oct. 3 - Marketing: getting and keeping customers
Week 5: Oct. 10 - Building your business model to grow
Week 6: Oct. 17 - Legal structures
Week 7: Oct. 24 - Discovering The Bottom Line-Costs, Needs, Break-Even Point
Week 8: Oct. 31 - Accounting for Growth
Week 9: Nov. 7 - Financial/Accounting, Technical Assistance Workshop
Week 10: Nov.14 - Planning For the Future
Week 11: Nov. 21 - Crafting Your Pitch
Week 12: Nov. 28 - End of Cohort Celebration
*Week 13 - Technical Assistance Workshop
* Bonus Week- Technical Assistance Workshop
PAST ACADEMY PRESENTERS INCLUDE
Click on the presenters name for their bio
Vernard Alexander, CEO,
Minority Networking Exchange
Priya Amin, Founder,
Flexable
Nisha Blackwell, Founder & CEO, Knotzland
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Paulette Blanks, Founder
Divine Delectables Baking & Catering Company
Russel Bynum, President/Creative Director,
Bynums Marketing & Communications, Inc.
Wayne B. Cobb II, Esquire
James Hancock, Owner
Hancock Accounting and Bookkeeping Solutions
Nashid Ibn Ali, Founder & CEO, Global Wealth Law Corporation
Cory Lakins, Founder, President and CEO,
Aimed Human Services,
Scot MacTaggart, Co-owner of KRNLS, Host of Pitchwerks podcast,
Entrepreneur Lending Director, Bridgeway Capital
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Derrick Wilson, CEO,
The Wilson Group
Fred Massey
Consultants at
Visions 2020 LLC
Nicolette Spudic
Food Innovation Lab Manager
Craft at Chatham
Toni Simpson
Chef & Instructor
Graduate Consultant
Craft at Chatham
Own Our own entrepreneurship academy alumni
Lueben Davis
Lynleys LLC
Gregory Dorsey
Under Construction
Krystal Gruber
Swaggalicious LLC
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Juliandra Jones
PBJ Customs
Debbie Hickman
Jendayi Comprehensive Home Care
Connie Gamble
Gamble Family Bakes
William Higginbottham
Cent of Community
Lelia Broughton
Lelia's Natural Care
Aleine Hughes
Slice of Delight LLC
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Courtney Davis
CDJ Innovations
Kyya Pettiford
Pettiford Administrative & Notary Services
Ron Harper
Harp’s Hometown Sports Lounge & Grill
Rebecca Guillory Gilmer
RGG & Associates
Christian Moore
Start & Scale
Mike White
Ruach Bikes and Burgers
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Tiffany Jimenez
Tiffany Marie Design Studio
Tierra Banks
Shyne Bryght Carribean
Fusion
Valicia Salter
Valicia’s Sweetery & Catering
Madeline Z. Sample
Pearl’s Bridge of Hope
Tacumba Turner
Oasis Farm & Fishery
Lorrean Winbush
Karbon Vine LLC
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Kiva Fisher-Green
Sanant Counseling & Wellness LLC
Rachel Goodman
House Bayou 412
Kay Self
Family, Friends, Unity & Passion Meals
Cynthia Underwood
Ambit Energy
Trashawnda Ward
"I AM" Campaign Tees
Chabelly Batista
Rooted Botanicals
Arielle Donelan
Arielle Donelan Designs
Brandon Phillips
Brandon Phillips LLC
Spencer & Khirsten Scott
Intentional Events
Cynthia Wallace
For Urban Pastors
Thomas Wallace
Profound Real Estate
Grace Oxley
The Move
Alichia Parker-Thomas
A PAR Health Care