Akron, Ohio (Sept. 23, 2020) – Congratulations to the first MORTAR at Bounce graduation class. Thirteen entrepreneurs received their certificates on Sept. 23 at Bounce in a socially distanced, virtual event. Tanya Green, owner of Julia Belle’s Seasonings, Rubs and Mixes was the winner of the Life’s A Pitch pitch contest taking home a $3,000 grant for her business.
The graduates completed a 15-week accelerator program to move their businesses forward. They now have the option of participating in an 18-month alumni program. The graduates are:
1474 Art Inc.; Sekoya Kendrick – 1474 Art helps artists take their vision to the next level by helping them customize goals and prepare a marketing strategy. 1474 Art also facilitates the sales of the art by working with museums, galleries, corporations and collectors.
All Better Care; Janelle Scott – All Better Care plans to be a daycare that cares for children with minor illnesses while parents are at work. The service will help prevent parents from calling off from their jobs, which can cause financial difficulties.
Compassionate Catering Kandy; Aleasha Wilson – Compassionate Catering Kandy is a catering company that makes candy and caramel apples, cotton candy, chocolate-covered bacon, fruit, brittle, truffles, popcorn, nuts, etc. and sells them via private party, festivals, and craft shows.
Cookie’s Chicago-Style BBQ; Nina Evans – Cookie’s Catering and BBQ plans to expand their operations to a mobile restaurant that provides grilled (BBQ) foods along with other Chicago-style signature dishes and American foods.
Eat Speak Love; Tiffany Roper – Eat Speak Love plans to offer the ultimate Akron date night experience. It curates events where people have the opportunity to take advantage of all Akron has to offer in food, drink, art, music, comedy and more.
Embracing Ur Journey LLC; Angela Higgins – Embracing Ur Journey is a dance, drum and wellness space. Participants can learn traditional west African dancing, drumming and drum making, while learning to focus on breathing, which helps maintain clear thinking and provides a healthy environment to grow.
Fat T’s Cookies; Travis Howe – Fat T’s provides a unique line of cookie-centric baked goods, including their signature quarter-pound cookies.
Honesty Healthcare; Tiffany Adjei – Honesty Healthcare provides homecare services and trust to families, serving those 55 and older. Additional services are offered, including a “care cam” for abuse prevention and accountability for clients and their families.
Jenuine Cuisines; Jennifer Tidwell – Jenuine Cuisines is a personal culinary service that offers individuals home cooking services, private parties, weekly meal planning and meal prep, and culinary ghost services.
Julia Belle’s Seasoning; Tonya Green – Julia Belles Seasonings makes 100 percent natural, hand-blended seasonings, dry rubs and mixes.
Sinclair Creative; Telayne Keith – Sinclair Creative is a private event planning, corporate/public exhibition planning, and production assisting service.
Sip. Savor. Soul; Dannika Stevenson – Sip. Savor. Soul provides catering services, private cooking, and food styling, as well as a cooking education program called “Connecting the Community with Cooking.” The classes focus on educating kids and adults about how to eat healthy in neighborhoods where food is not easily accessible.
Sweetly Created 4 U; Brandy Coffey – Sweetly Created 4 U creates handmade scented soy dessert candles, melts, sprays and more.