Meet the100Knoxville Fall 2023 cohort
Media Contact:
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Catherine Porth, Director of Insights & Development
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October 24, 2023, KNOXVILLE, TN
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center announces 100Knoxville Fall 2023 cohort.
The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) is excited to announce the ninth cohort of 100Knoxville founders. Five founders have been matched with an all-star team of mentors for a 5-week sprint that kicked off this October. Over the course of the program, founders will work to clarify their business strategy, make connections across the entrepreneurial community, improve operations, and, most importantly, increase sales.
“Without 100Knoxville, my business would’ve continued on, and we would’ve been OK. But, because of 100Knoxville I was able to take a giant leap forward in scaling my business and seeing my vision come to fruition.
Thanks to 100Knoxville, I enjoyed the privilege of one-on-one coaching and mentorship from a group of extraordinary individuals, and forged relationships that will undoubtedly flourish for years to come. For all of these reasons and more, I’m forever grateful for the 100Knoxville program and those that make it possible,” said Ryan McGrew, the founder of RightWay Insurance, and now a mentor for the current cohort.
This cohort of 100Knoxville is made possible through generous support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Schaad Companies.
Meet the founders and their mentors:
Deahna Moore - Deahna Joi LLC , paired with mentor Ryan McGrew
Budgets by Joi specializes in helping financially anxious individuals and owners build a confident financial foundation. They offer a range of services to develop good financial habits and increase savings by 20-30%. Through a combination of curriculum, budget classes, or private sessions, Budgets by Joi provides custom plans for businesses and nonprofit organizations to implement financial literacy into their programs. With 15 years of experience in finance, they assist first-time entrepreneurs and founders in establishing long-term success, with financial stability. They believe financial literacy should be accessible to all.
Genesis Howard - Ink and Oil LLC, paired with mentor Monty Howard
Ink and Oil LLC Tattoos and Massage Therapy is a unique establishment that seamlessly combines the artistry of tattooing with the therapeutic benefits of massage. Their skilled team of talented tattoo artists and licensed massage therapists provide a holistic experience where clients can express themselves through body art and find relaxation and relief through expert massage techniques. Whether you're looking to get a stunning new tattoo or unwind with a rejuvenating massage, Ink and Oil offers a one-of-a-kind fusion of artistic expression and wellness.
Andrea Yancey - Silbeauty, paired with mentor Damon Rawls
Established in 2010, Silbeauty offers salon services, classes, and supplies to all the bold, beautiful bosses of West Knoxville. Sil stands for Sew In Life. They sew positive energy in their staff, and it pours into their clients; they specialize in providing the ultimate experience one client at a time! Silbeauty has been voted “Best Hair Colorist in Knoxville”and “Best Hair Extension Specialist Knoxville.”
Stephanie Blue - Steph Bee Creative, paired with mentor Dr. Angelique Adams
As a mommy blogger and wellness traveler, Steph Bee collaborates with approximately 100 brands and non-profits annually, contributing to their marketing endeavors as an influencer. In late 2022, Stephanie launched her female-focused enterprise, Steph Bee Consultancy, a social media agency that specializes in a wide range of social media-focused services catering to mothers and women. These services include designing and curating reels and videos, coaching mommy creators to achieve success in establishing a secondary income as nano-micro influencers and providing Social Media Management services and courses. The agency aims to provide clients with sustained social media growth, while also offering a comprehensive training course to educate and empower women to do the same.
Candice Halbert - YOSTEM, paired with mentor Jerry Askew
Youth Outreach in STEM is a nonprofit organization whose aim is to empower underserved students nationally by educating them through hands-on STEM experiences and to engage them in STEM through independent ownership, helping those students develop a competitive advantage in the marketplace, build wealth, and positively impact society. Some of their projects include 3D design and printing, robotics, coding, and various chemistry and engineering projects, just to name a few. YO-STEM has 3-flagship programs where they expose students to STEM: Girls in STEM (gSTEM), STEM Saturday, and competitive co-ed Robotics club. They want students to have a fun experience exploring the vast range of what STEM has to offer.
Each company will also receive $5,000 towards growing their business, thanks to the support of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Schaad Companies. “ORNL is committed to supporting the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in East Tennessee,” said Susan Hubbard, deputy for science and technology at ORNL. “We’re supporting 100Knoxville because we understand how access to expertise and mentorship can help new businesses and entrepreneurs flourish.” Hubbard oversees the lab’s science and technology portfolio, technology transfer, economic development and strategic partnerships.
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 ORNL
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the world’s premier research institution, empowering leaders and teams to pursue breakthroughs in an environment marked by operational excellence and engagement with the communities where we live and work. UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science
About Schaad Companies
Schaad Companies is a leading provider of high-quality residential and commercial real estate in East Tennessee, consistent with the long-standing Schaad tradition of reliability, innovation, and excellence. Since 1910, the Schaad family has been developing and building residential real estate projects with an unwavering commitment to excellence while adapting to meet changing needs through continuous innovation. The Schaad family also has decades of experience in developing, building, managing, and investing in commercial real estate in East Tennessee. Client success is consistently achieved through extensive market knowledge, a robust land inventory, and expertise in site selection. A family business at heart, Schaad Companies values trust and integrity, consistency, and open-mindedness.
