November 2024 Newsletter: Thank You! You made Demo Day Epic!🔥🔥

A thank you is in order! It was you—the mentors, facilitators, the cohort, board members, donors and sponsors, ecosystem partners, and all our community friends and supporters—who made Velocity Demo Day 2024 an epic event! 

On October 17th, you helped us celebrate this amazing ten-member cohort, who successfully completed our 10-week Velocity accelerator and competed for a total of $20,000 in seed-stage grants. This includes a $10,000 Velocity Award for the winner and two $5,000 Emerging Women Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by Wells Fargo.

This year’s Demo Day was emceed by Alexia Mitchell, Founder of Reset and Heal. Mayor Allen Joines of the City of Winston-Salem greeted and inspired attendees with remarks as well.

At the highlight of the event, three outstanding creative entrepreneurs: Ami Patel of Raleigh, Brittiany Jenkins of Winston-Salem, and Katye Freelon of Durham, were awarded grant funding.

Ami Patel, Founder of Gallery Box, received the CCE 2024 Velocity Award of $10,000, presented by Catherine Howe Mayse, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Inmar Intelligence. Gallery Box offers interactive, artist-led, custom-designed workshops tailored to residential living spaces.

Ami Patel speaks with Demo Day attendees at her display table.

In collaboration with Wells Fargo, CCE established the Emerging Women Entrepreneur Award, which this year was given as two $5,000 grants. Both were presented by Alan Proctor, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Wells Fargo Private Bank.

Brittiany Jenkins, Founder of The Flawlesskin Company, received one of the $5,000 grants for her oncology-inclusive spa serving cancer patients who experience significant skin changes during treatment. Jenkins also received the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the public attendees of the event.

The second $5,000 grant from Wells Fargo was awarded to Katye Freelon, Founder of Coco Fro, maker of a delicious vegan freeze-dried ice cream made with organic ingredients.

CCE made additional in-kind awards at an awards breakfast on October 18th. These include:

• Velocity Legal Services Award – Offered by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
  Winner: Nesting Nannies – Jasmine Godbolt
• Velocity Digital Marketing Award – Offered by Royalty Marketing
  Winner: MOMNTM – E.A. Green
• Velocity Marketing Plan Award – Offered by PO & Co.
  Winner: Odelia, Marie, & Patrice – Candace Parrish
• Velocity Grant Mentorship Award – Offered by Cauthen Collaborative
  Winner: South 23rd – Susan Campbell

We are inspired by each of the companies in this year’s Velocity cohort and look forward to witnessing their future success.

As we enter this season of gratitude, the CCE team wants to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who have supported us. Wishing you a joyful Thanksgiving filled with warmth, family, and reflection on all that we have accomplished together.

The CCE team — Margaret Collins, Emily Wolf, Program & Marketing Coordinator, and
Ashley Morgan, Program & Operations Manager — share a celebratory high-five at Demo Day.