Twenty Black and Latino entrepreneurs are part of business development nonprofit WePower's two new accelerator cohorts, one focused on construction and another open to a variety of enterprises.
The 12-week accelerators began this month and are offering professional services, business coaching and networking. The construction programming is designed to help those businesses scale quickly and bid for large-scale developments and projects. WePower entrepreneurs-in-residence Ron Unterreiner from the Rhodey & Son Construction Co. and Chris Goode of Ruby Jean's Juicery are running the construction and all-industry accelerators, respectively.
“Recently, an unprecedented amount of capital has flooded the St. Louis region for development,” WePoer CEO Charli Cooksey said in a statement. “WePower wants to make sure local Black and Latinx business owners in the construction field are poised for growth and success.”
Each business also will receive a $5,000 equity grant.
A WePower spokesperson said the nonprofit is funding the program through grants and private donations.
D'Von Johnson, of commercial painting contractor D. Johnson Painting LLC and a member of Local 115 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, said he is excited more about contracting itself from the construction program. Program sessions topics include accounting, investability, marketing, artificial intelligence and legal affairs. He plans to use the grant money for working capital on his business that employs 18 workers.
Other entrepreneurs in the construction cohort are Carvontate Brown of Making America Better demolition and site prep; Timothy and Kristen Byrd of Revive Homes, a general contractor; Rochelle Bell Bonty of HVAC firm RMB Mechanical; James Grayson of Plumbing Innovations; Raymond Lee Slaughter of Sultan General Construction Co.; Terrence Smith and Jeffrey Reed of ATAV, a cabling and communications company; James Barnes Jr. of Barnes Landscaping; Jessica Gaines of POM Piece of Mind, a general construction company; and Brittnee White of EPM Construction renovation business.
LaParis Hawkins is happy that Tailored Pieces, her polyester-blend satin luxury bonnet brand, is participating in the all-industries accelerator as she tries to expand her business into hotels and spas. Hawkins emphasized that anyone with hair can benefit from the bonnets, commonly worn by Black women to protect their hairstyle. Using synthetic fabric can preserve hair's moisture and prevent split ends and other damage caused by friction against natural fibers. Tailored Pieces' bonnets also are reversible, making them a two-in-one-look product.
"If you get a bonnet from the store, most likely that's going to have a nylon in it that's going to dry out your hair. We make ours with satin, so that's going to preserve the moisture of your hair," she said. "Another thing that's pretty great about our bonnets is that they don't fall off in the middle of the night. For women who are trying to preserve their hairstyles, whether they're sleeping in rollers or just went to the salon, our bonnets are going to make it through the night."
Hawkins said she is working to get Tailored Pieces into salons because of the value they offer customers by preserving hairstyles, and at spas, bonnets can protect customers' hair as they get massages or facials. She wants to learn how to scale up her business into new markets at the accelerator.
Other entrepreneurs in the all-industries cohort are Adjo Honsou of Fufu n' Sauce food truck offering West African cuisine; Asha Hornaday of The Modern School of Manners etiquette school; Brock Seals of Art by Seals creatives services; Juan Carlos and Brunella Orlandini of cleaning service Magic Cleaning; Candace Anthony of The Ellis Agency mental health services; Javia Gilliam-Sanford of Pour Decisions bar services; Natalie King of Florae Beauty haircare; SoJohna Bell of Ryze Manufacturing and Logistics hair and skincare; and Tashara Earl of Shades of Color cosmetics.
WePower, founded in 2018, reported $2.13 million in revenue and $2.07 million in expenses for fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2022, according to its most recent IRS filing. It has been offering accelerator programming since 2020 and launched a business investment fund in 2021.
