Presenting the Spring 2023 graduating class of Flint Hills Business Launch. Back row, left to right: Sarah Siders, Spark; Mentoria Green, BlackParadiseDoulas; Victoria Mutinda, KikisEvents; Suliel Sapp, Suliel Serenades; Misti Lemoine, Second Act – Everything House and Home Consulting; Natalie Barlett, Gifts by Natalie; Jack Cunningham, Fragrant Blends Candle Bar; Charles Mutinda, KikisEvents; Pablo Diaz Carballo, Pablo Diaz Conceptual Art Studio; Tara Gieber, Lead Course Facilitator. Front row, left to right: Melissa Soldan, Lil’ Munchkins Children’s Boutique; Sonia Garcia, The Nail Professor; Amanda Bullock, Amanda’s Cookie Colony; Karen Cunningham, Fragrant Blends Candle Bar; Arelis Diaz, Pablo Diaz Conceptual Art Studio. Not pictured: Karen Wille, Smokin’ Wille’s BBQ
On Thursday, April 27th, Spark presented the Spring 2023 class of Flint Hills Business Launch. After an intense 8-week, virtual course, 14 entrepreneurs representing 11 businesses received certificates of graduation, and nine participated in a pitch competition with a $1000 award.
Flint Hills Business Launch, an 8-week immersive course designed for entrepreneurs who are pre-launch or in their first three years of operations, kicked off this March with 14 participating entrepreneurs from Pottawatomie, Riley and Geary counties in Kansas. In addition to Spark, program sponsors for the course include NetWork Kansas, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, and Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC), with representatives from NetWork Kansas and PCEDC in attendance.
The Flint Hills Business Launch course curriculum is built on the nationally-recognized, Kauffman FastTrac program, with additional support for participating business owners in the form of small group discussions, expert presentations and Q&A, mentor matching and additional visibility and preparation for capital for their business during and after the course.
Get to know the business stories of the entrepreneurs of Flint Hills Business Launch here.
One of the most valuable benefits these entrepreneurs gained from the course was each other. The majority of the class attended an in-person event called the Midway Meetup, an opportunity for the virtual attendees of the course to meet in real life to network and get to know each other. As the course progressed, participants continued to come together to support each other in practical ways, making mutual referrals, offering feedback and looking for ways to see each other succeed.
Hosted at the Union Pacific Depot in downtown Manhattan, the graduation ceremony and pitch competition buzzed with energy as friends and family joined graduates to cheer them on and provide support. Three businesses from the class were represented as vendors, with Kiki’s Events providing balloon decor, Amanda’s Cookie Colony serving up dessert sugar cookies with business logo designs in the frosting, and MHK Caravan Co offering bar service and a digital photo booth. Local caterer, Aunt Meka, provided a grazing table for light dining.
Presentation of certificates was followed by a pitch competition. Nine of the fourteen talented entrepreneurs in the class stepped up to the challenge, competing for the grand prize of $1000. Experienced entrepreneurs and mentors, Oscar Montenegro of Aspen Business Group, Dr. Crystal Davis of CJD Consulting Solutions, and Shawn Robison of Honor Screenprinting, served on the judging panel for the competition. The judges provided feedback to each of the participants, while also offering constructive critique and suggestions to help them improve their ideas and business models.
Pitch participants had been prepared through private coaching sessions with facilitators and pitch feedback sessions during class, and their knowledge of their businesses and preparation work was evident during each pitch. The final $1000 award winner was Natalie Barlett, owner of gift curations service, Gifts by Natalie.
Natalie Barlett, winner of the $1000 pitch award, pictured center with Sarah Siders, Spark and pitch panel judges, including Dr. Crystal Davis, second from left, Oscar Montenegro, second from right and Shawn Robison, right.
The participating entrepreneurs who graduated from Flint Hills Business Launch represent a variety of industries and growth opportunities within early stages. Of the 11 businesses represented, nine are currently operating and two plan to launch within the year. Industries represented by the group include retail, food and beverage, beauty services, arts, entertainment and events, consulting, and other professional services.
Those who attended the private ceremony and pitch competition where not only treated to an energizing event, but also had the opportunity to sample the event experiences from hosting vendors and network and make connections with the entrepreneurs. Many attendees planned to follow up with the participants for potential referrals for the emerging entrepreneurs to assist in their business growth.
The graduation is not the end of the support for Business Launch graduates. Entrepreneurs who completed the course can now select from a variety of support options, including mentor-matching and peer group follow-up opportunities. Each participant received a referral to the Small Business Development Center during the class, and many of the entrepreneurs are already working with the regional advisor to continue developing their business plans and financial projections.
Graduates are also encouraged to participate in the business and entrepreneurship community through networking and education opportunities provided by area chambers of commerce, SBDC, Junction City Main Street, Black Entrepreneurs of the Flints Hills, Spark, as well as Women in Entrepreneurship, Veteran Entrepreneur Meetups and more.
Check out these features of the Spring 2023 class of entrepreneurs graduating Flint Hills Business Launch here.
