Meet 100Knoxville’s 11th Cohort Graduates!
Media Contact:
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Delaney Lawson, Program Director
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December 12, 2024, KNOXVILLE, TN
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center announces 100Knoxville Cohort 11 Graduates.
The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) is thrilled to celebrate the graduates of the eleventh 100Knoxville cohort. This group of five founders teamed up with an exceptional lineup of mentors for a dynamic five-week sprint that began in October, led by 100Knoxville Facilitator Kandis Troutman. Throughout the program, participants refined their business strategies, expanded their entrepreneurial networks, enhanced operational efficiency, and boosted sales.
This cohort of 100Knoxville is made possible through generous support from The Boyd Foundation.
Meet the founders and their mentors:
Eric Burum | Timeless Barbershop
Mentor: Monty Howard
Timeless Barbershop is a barbershop located on Western Avenue in Knoxville, TN.
Yewande Akinse | Salubata
Mentor: Marc Hall
Salubata is pioneering the future of fashion by merging sustainability with innovation. We design and produce modular shoes made from repurposed plastic waste, empowering individuals to make eco-conscious choices without compromising on style or performance. Our products are not just footwear—they're a movement toward a cleaner planet, a smarter wardrobe, and a better tomorrow. With two global patents and a mission to eliminate plastic waste from our oceans, Salubata is redefining what it means to walk with purpose.
Roderick Lewis | Volunteer Counseling & Medical Services LLC
Mentor: Marcus Blair
Volunteer Counseling & Medical Services LLC is an online telehealth counseling business that provides mental health, substance abuse, and counseling services to members of the Tennessee community statewide.
Kiana Jones | Plush Moon Terrarium Co.
Mentor: Logan Higgins
At Plush Moon Terrarium Co, they specialize in bringing nature into your home or space with our selection of low-maintenance, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally conscious terrariums. They offer a wide range of products and services to cater to all your terrarium needs.
Latoya Walter | Same 24 Cleaning LLC
Mentor: Lina Evans
Same 24 Cleaning is a professional cleaning service that specializes in top-tier commercial cleaning. Their expert team is equipped to handle all aspects of commercial cleaning, ensuring your workplace not only looks pristine but also promotes a healthy environment.
Each company will also receive $10,000 towards growing their business, thanks to the support of The Boyd Foundation. “The Boyd Foundation is encouraged by the work of 100Knoxville to bolster Black-owned businesses and foster entrepreneurship,” says Randy Boyd, President and Founder of the Boyd Foundation. “This work matters as we continue to build a thriving community for all our neighbors.”
For more information, to apply for the next cohort, or to support 100Knoxville, please visit 100knoxville.com.
Assets:
100Knoxville high resolution logo
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center logo
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About 100Knoxville
100Knoxville is a program dedicated to helping Black-owned businesses in Knoxville grow by $10,000,000 in 5 years through investment of time and talent, and access to social, political, and financial capital. Each cohort is facilitated by strategist & business consultant Kandis Troutman. Learn more at 100knoxville.com.
About Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center is a business accelerator located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, dedicated to changing lives through entrepreneurship.. Our mission is to create a thriving entrepreneurial community that is accessible, diverse, and sustainable to make Knoxville the most founder-friendly city in America. Learn more at www.knoxec.com.
About The Boyd Foundation
For over a decade, organizations across Tennessee have benefitted from Jenny and Randy Boyd’s generous spirit and commitment to making their home state a better place. Following a long, rich history of personal giving, the Boyd family launched the Boyd Foundation in 2017. Focused on education, arts and preservation, animal welfare and mental health, the Boyd Foundation is both intentional and comprehensive in their giving approach, incorporating the passions of Jenny, Randy and their sons and daughter-in-law, Harrison, Thomas and Lindsey.
