Penelope has an e-commerce business selling coquitos in Queens. Coquitos is a Caribbean coconut-based holiday beverage, but she sells her product year round. Penelope is looking to gain capital and boost sales in order to increase revenue and open up a pop-up shop/experience in NYC.
With the rise of Asian hate crimes, Kylie decided to leave her job to pursue her business full time, which is the first better-for-you Asian baking products. Her ingredients are high quality, and she takes care to source ingredients sustainably. She currently has flavors such as sesame and matcha, and demand for her products has taken off.
DeAndre is a professional body builder who got frustrated with the supplements that were available on the market, which he felt were not transparent about the filler ingredients included. He decided to work with a developer to develop his own protein drink which is fully transparent about what it contains, and contains higher quality ingredients all sourced in the United States. They now have 32 different products, and he hopes to expand his target audience from body builders to the broader fitness and wellness industry.
Merlon created her fresh-squeezed juice and baked goods business during the Pandemic to bring the ideas of health and comfort together. During a time when people were worried and stressed, Merlon wanted to bring an element of happiness to her customers' lives. She started making pound cakes from her mother's recipe for friends and family and a business was born. All juices and baked goods are handcrafted and are made from all-natural ingredients without any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Her specialty is freshly squeezed lemonade and limeade.
Sean and his grandfather decided to open their juice bar on City Island because they wanted to bring unique and healthy options to the City Island scene. They are known for their fresh food and sauces, all made-from-scratch, which are all grilled or oven baked. They hope to continue growing the business and expanding their food menu.
Toni and Vester always wanted to be entrepreneurs, and decided to bring health and positivity to their community through a seafood business. They are always there for their customers, providing fresh-caught options and going above and beyond with recipes and customer service. They are excited to break into an industry that lacks black-owned businesses, and in doing so to keep money in their local community.
Analeah started her business selling smoothies and protein shakes, especially crafted for people who deal with digestive disorders. She is a Registered Nurse with decades of clinical experience, as well as experience teaching nutrition in public schools. At this time, she primarily sells her products on the retail side, but would love to build out her clientele in the medical community as well.
A lover of artisan chocolates since youth, Milene decided to hone her skills creating her own brand of artisan chocolates. She creates chocolates that are inspired by French and Japanese culture, and injects international ingredients into her chocolates. Her chocolate truffles include only the finest natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives. She plans to continue celebrating diversity and chocolate, as well as creating chocolate bars and additional chocolate sculptures.
Jamila built a delivery service from the ground up. Originally from Ghana, Jamila found that African diaspora communities in NYC often weren't comfortable working with Seamless or Uber Eats. She started the business to help small business owners from immigrant communities connect with local food enthusiasts who want fast, fresh delivery of the delicious diverse cuisine they would otherwise need to travel to find.