A trendsetting apparel business and a startup diving into the metaverse are among the latest recipients of Main Street Ventures' quarterly grants.
Black Owned, the fashion line led by Means Cameron, and Bloxsmith, a web 3.0 company that serves as a marketplace for developers in the metaverse, were among 15 companies to receive leap and launch grants, respectively.
Main Street Ventures awards the grants quarterly. “Each quarter we see a growing demand for our programs which continuously shows the influx of new ideas in the region," Brianna Dzuricsko, Main Street's executive lead, said in a statement.
Launch grants provide emerging, pre-revenue businesses at the prototype or product stage; they must show clear evidence of direct customer engagement validating the business model and product. Grants are in the amount of $5,000-$10,000 of equity-free funding to increase the odds of reaching the market entry-stage and beyond.
Leap funding, meanwhile, provides revenue-generating businesses with $10,000-$30,000 of equity-free funding to scale their community impact and increase the odds of survival.
The companies receiving launch grants include:
- Abba connects individuals with in-home care professionals.
- Bloxsmith provides digital in-game assets and gaming currencies for community-based game developers. Bloxsmith is the first metaverse marketplace for Roblox game developers. It was a previous participant in Main Street Ventures' Launch It Cincy program.
- Bookink simplifies the tattoo booking experience.
- Obscure Euro Parts is a full-service consignment shop for rare auto parts. It was a previous participant in Main Street Ventures' Launch It Cincy program.
- Step Up Social is a digital marketing agency that leverages college student labor to offer agency-style work for startups on a budget. It was a previous participant in Main Street Ventures' Launch It Cincy program.
- Thread & Mane offers hair braiding, beauty retail and events.
- Toot Suite Press is a wedding stationery studio offering modern, customizable designs, made with the highest-quality materials on traditional printing presses.
- Vale Technologies builds and designs carbon dioxide conversion devices through carbon capture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The companies receiving leap grants include:
- Baqette is a small, woman-owned business creating & curating leather pieces to inspire your everyday life.
- Black Owned is a community centric brand highlighting Black stories and promoting ownership through fashion and culture.
- Cutman Barbershop is a classic barbershop providing traditional men's grooming services whose mission is to build communities through the art of barbering and acts of service.
- In the Curious Kitchen is a female-owned and founded brand creating ready-to-enjoy Southern classics, inspired by Bluegrass country.
- Junebug Jewelry Designs handcrafts timeless, meaningful and unique artisan statement jewelry to honor bold, empowered women.
- DohJoy is a low-carb, low-calorie, flavorful real bread.
- Wyoming Community Coffee is a neighborhood coffee shop in Wyoming that recently expanded its roasting capabilities.
In total, Main Street Ventures awarded more than $240,000 in equity-free grant funding this quarter. It did not disclose individual amounts.
Main Street Ventures, as an organization, provides capital, connections and education for entrepreneurs with a particular focus on women and minority entrepreneurs who have been historically under-represented in the startup community.
