Angela has had a passion for wines and wine-making but has also noticed a lack of BIPOC representation in the wine-world. She has leveraged her background in digital marketing and documentary film-making to create a company which focuses on highlighting and uplifting underrepresented voices and choices in the wine world.
Paige owns and runs a culinary bookshop, a Sicilian cafe and grocer, and an event space for the community, all rolled into one! She pays homage to her grandparents through her business, as they owned a Sicilian grocery store in Bushwick when she was growing up. Paige pivoted to offer high quality grocery pickups during the pandemic, and is currently expanding into an open space next door to her current location.
Prince's visionary restaurant offers a fusion of Caribbean, African, and Soul Food inspired dishes. He invites friends, neighbors, and guests to come, sit and eat in a community-focused setting. Prince hopes to bring people together through food. Prince is also an active duty soldier in the U.S. military.
Ashley decided to leave her job as a warehouse supervisor during the pandemic in order to pursue a lifelong love for cooking and opening a restaurant. It is a family business, and they take pride in the feel that the restaurant has - everyone who comes to eat is treated like family and made to feel at home. They serve quick bites that everyone loves, and she infuses her unique style and flavor into classic casual dishes. Her goal is to build out the business infrastructure, and she hopes to share everything she has learned with other entrepreneurs looking to open a restaurant.
Katlyn always wanted to own her own business and starting in 2018 has been living that dream. Her unique mobile bartending experience, operating out of a refurbished 1951 Boles Aero trailer, is perfect for weddings, corporate events and other parties. The trailer has enough space for two bartenders and a barback, meaning faster drink service and more happy event-goers. She is working to increase engagement with corporate event planners and grow her revenue.
Cecilia is the owner of a small-batch, e-commerce almond butter business. Using Asian-inspired bubble tea flavors, Cecilia is a popular option at the farmers market for folks looking for a healthy and flavorful alternative to peanut butter. Cecilia is looking to scale her business and improve digital marketing to increase e-commerce sales, as well as eventually selling products in specialty grocery stores.
Mieko and her daughter, Kamari (or Kami), have created a non-soy vegan food stand in Oakland that has become very popular with customers who have specialized diets. Their plant-based meals are all made with local and fresh ingredients. They have obtained their brick-and-mortar restaurant in Oakland where they hope to introduce new communities to veganism.
Patience began catering small parties and events in 2016 and since 2018, her business has expanded to include in person and virtual cooking classes, private chef dining, a unique culinary dining experience, household cooking products, and a specialty sauce. Her cafe aims to trend set African culture and cuisine by increasing interaction with the African Diaspora.
Kymme is the owner of a Brooklyn cafe that offers healthy alternatives to fast food chains. This cafe offers counter-service, brunch pop-up specials, catering, and an e-commerce website selling goods from the cafe. Their catering serves large companies looking to provide lunch to their in-person events. Kymme is looking to increase sales and attract a more loyal customer base to increase their profit margin.
Evelyn worked in marketing before realizing she could use her creative talent to start her own business based on her love for cooking and sweets. Her intricate, customizable designs and gluten-free treats continue to amaze customers, while Evelyn simultaneously works to expand her influence in the industry with baking-related books and more.