When The Green Photograph founder Christiana Cacciato set out to completely reinvent her business after moving from Seattle to Akron, Bounce Innovation Hub offered the tools and support she needed to succeed and grow.
“I knew I couldn’t just start [my business] and immediately start getting folks; I knew I needed to be connected to a program.”
Christiana discovered Bounce Innovation Hub while researching programs available to women entrepreneurs in the Northeast Ohio region. Though Christiana already had an established business, she immediately found opportunities to network and grow her business as a participant in the MORTAR program.
“Because I knew I wanted to work in commercial photography with other entrepreneurs and local businesses, it was a fast-forward connection for me to meet all these incredibly talented folks.”
Every week, the program provided information and resources to cohort members on how to view their business. Members also built on each other’s experience and connected with their fellow entrepreneurs to find the tools for success. Christiana, a commercial photographer, could find work and clients through her fellow MORTAR cohort members.
“I think the most extraordinary thing about Bounce and all its programs is that everybody knows somebody else.”
Armed with the experience from MORTAR and the connections she made because of the program, Christiana acquired a photography studio inside Bounce Innovation Hub and has seen her business continue to blossom and grow. Her experience allowed her to develop and grow a clientele base aligned with her creative vision as a commercial photographer, focusing on professionals and entrepreneurs.
Since moving into the studio, Christiana met her goal of 50 clients in her first year and quickly exceeded her year 2 goal of 100 clients, nearing 200 in the first half of 2024. With this accelerated growth, she could also hire a social media manager from a connection with a fellow MORTAR alumnus.
When asked what advice she would give aspiring or established entrepreneurs about Bounce’s offerings, Christiana praised the wealth of opportunities available through Bounce during any stage of entrepreneurship.
“I owe my business growth to Bounce!”