Grand Opening Celebration: Karen Bonner of Sage and Lavender Kulture Kitchen

Congratulations to Karen Bonner, a proud graduate of our Pathways program, on the grand opening of Sage and Lavender Kulture Kitchen earlier this month! Karen, alongside her husband, Chef Anthony, has brought her dream to life by launching this unique culinary business that provides dining experiences at the stunning Villa Magnolia wedding venue. Their beautifully curated menu and elegant space are already making waves in the community, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate their success!

Instagram @Sage_LavenderCollective

TikTok @sagelavenderkulturekit

Thank you to Twin City Development Foundation for supporting CCE’s mission to grow the creative economy in Winston-Salem. Their investment in our organizational capacity has allowed us to maintain another full-time position and helps ensure we can continue delivering high-impact programs and expanding access to entrepreneurial resources. We’re grateful for their support in strengthening the foundation of our work and allowing us to grow and support more creative entrepreneurs.

“Twin City Development Foundation is proud to support the Center for Creative Economy as it continues to build capacity and expand opportunities for entrepreneurs in our region. By supporting the organization’s team development and long-term sustainability, we have helped ensure CCE can deliver high-quality programs, foster innovation, and launch creative entrepreneurs in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County for years to come.”

Robert Egleston, Executive Director, Twin City Development Foundation

Happy July! We hope you’re soaking up the summer and finding ways to stay cool. Here at CCE, the season is heating up with anticipation as we prepare to launch Velocity 2025 in just two weeks!

On August 12th, we’ll welcome our 10th cohort of creative entrepreneurs into our 10-week accelerator. Over the past decade, the Center for Creative Economy has helped 178 founders refine their business models, connect with mentors, and pitch for seed-stage funding. This year promises to be no different, and we’re eager to see the bold ideas this new group will bring to life.

The excitement builds all the way to Demo Day on October 16th, where our entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses for a share of $20K in seed-stage grants. It’s always an inspiring evening and we’d love for you to be there! Register now to secure your spot.

Register Here

As we look toward Velocity’s milestone 10th cohort, we’re reminded of how every CCE program contributes to growing creative businesses. This month, we’re thrilled to share newly released videos for Pathways and Kinetic, two of our programs designed to support creatives at earlier stages of their journey. Pathways provides residents of Winston-Salem with the space to develop their mindset as aspiring entrepreneurs and explore business ideas. Kinetic is the next step that provides a hands-on environment to validate business models and work through the customer discovery process. Please enjoy the videos linked here to see these programs in action.

Momentum like this is only possible through the generosity of our community. With sponsorship opportunities for Demo Day now open, there’s never been a better time to partner with us and help fuel the future of creative entrepreneurship. Contact Margaret Collins to learn more about how you can get involved.

Thank you for standing with us as we empower creative entrepreneurs. Together, we’re building a thriving ecosystem of innovation and creativity, and we can’t wait to celebrate more success stories with you this fall.

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We’re so glad you are a part of the CCE family!

With gratitude,

The CCE Team

Happy June from the Center for Creative Economy! As summer kicks off, we’re busy behind the scenes preparing to welcome our newest Velocity cohort this August.

Velocity is our 10-week business accelerator for creatives, helping founders sharpen their business models, build strong brands, and connect with expert mentors. This year, participants will compete for $20,000 in seed funding, including the $10,000 CCE Velocity Award and two $5,000 Wells Fargo Emerging Entrepreneur Awards.

Applications for Velocity just closed, and we’re thrilled to see the number of passionate, creative entrepreneurs who applied. We’ll announce the final cohort in early August, and we’d love for you to meet them in person! Demo Day is back on October 16th, where you’ll get a front-row seat to the growth, innovation, and creativity of our 2025 Velocity cohort. This year marks the 10th anniversary of CCE’s accelerator programming and we can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Register here for Demo Day.

As we wrap up our Spring Giving Campaign and fiscal year on June 30, your support enables us to continue serving creative entrepreneurs. Help us continue offering resources, mentorship, and funding to innovative creatives. Make a donation to strengthen the creative economy in our community. Every gift helps us build a thriving creative economy.

We’re thrilled to celebrate Kayte Freelon, founder of Coco Fro, on receiving a $10,000 NC IDEA MICRO grant! Coco Fro is a Durham-based company making plant-based, freeze-dried ice cream. This dairy-free treat is sweet, creamy, crunchy, and totally unique.

With support from NC IDEA and a previous Kickstarter grant, Kayte is working to scale production, upgrade packaging, and launch an online store. You can also find Coco Fro through local partners like the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and Kaleideum in Winston-Salem. We’re so proud to see a Velocity alum continuing to build momentum

This spring has been full of energy and growth here at the Center for Creative Economy. We were proud to kick off May with a successful launch of the Capital Coaching workshop. At the beginning of May, local Winston-Salem founders participated in workshop sessions focused on becoming grant funding eligible. This program was made possible by the collaboration of seven Entrepreneurial Support Organizations here in Winston-Salem. Thank you to our incredible partners who helped us make this program possible and to the entrepreneurs who showed up ready to grow!

Now, we’re shifting gears into Velocity season! Applications are officially open for Velocity 2025, our 10-week accelerator for creative entrepreneurs. This program is built for founders who are serious about growing their businesses. Through weekly workshops, expert mentoring, and a hands-on curriculum, participants strengthen their brand, sharpen their business model, and learn how to pitch for up to $10,000 in seed funding.

If you or someone you know is building a business in fashion, media, beauty, food, wellness, the arts, or other creative industries, we encourage you to apply! Visit our website at ccetriad.com to get started. Applications close June 10, and space is limited.

And finally, we’ve officially launched our Spring Giving Campaign. Your support makes it possible for CCE to continue offering programs like Velocity. A gift of any size, $25, $100, or $1,000, helps creative entrepreneurs gain the tools and training they need to thrive.

If you believe in the power of creativity and entrepreneurship to strengthen our community, we invite you to make a donation to CCE by June 30th. Every gift helps us build a thriving creative economy.

Thank you for being part of our journey!

Thank you to First Citizens Bank for supporting CCE’s mission to empower creative entrepreneurs. Their investment in our programs and Morgan Moore’s mentorship during our Kinetic boot camp helped provide hands-on guidance to early-stage founders. We’re grateful for their partnership in building a more vibrant and sustainable creative economy.

⚠️ Note: This blog post is part of our archives and may contain outdated information.

Thank you to the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County for supporting CCE’s growth through the ARPA grant. This investment helped us expand the CCE team and our organizational capacity, allowing us to grow the impact of our programs.

We kicked off the season by wrapping up Kinetic 2025 on April 10th. This six-week creative business boot camp brought together a passionate group of early-stage entrepreneurs, and we couldn’t be more proud of their growth. Congratulations to Cirque du Sucre, winner of the $1,000 Kinetic Potential Award. Most participants also received generous in-kind awards from our community partners, including legal services, business coaching, and co-working space. A huge thanks to everyone who helped make this Kinetic cohort such a success!

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with leaders in Winston-Salem’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. On May 1st, CCE will cohost Capital Coach, a workshop for early-stage business owners. The first session will focus on Grants and becoming business grant eligible. Our partners include Forsyth Tech’s Small Business Center, Goler CDC, Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Center at SG Atkins, Triad Minority and Women’s Business Expo, Greater Winston-Salem Inc., and Winston Starts. We are delighted to work with our partners on a program to support financial sustainability for small businesses and early-stage entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, it is officially Velocity time! Applications are open for our signature 10-week accelerator for creative entrepreneurs. This program is designed for early-stage founders who are ready to master business fundamentals and take their ventures to the next level. Velocity includes hands-on workshops, a tailored curriculum, expert mentors, and the opportunity to compete for up to $10,000 in seed-stage grants. Applications close on June 10, so please spread the word or apply today.

April brings the launch of our Spring Giving Campaign. We are very grateful for the individual support CCE receives to host and implement our unique programs for creative entrepreneurs. Your donation helps us provide the tools, training, and resources that creative and artists need to grow their businesses. Whether you give $25, $100, or $1,000 your support makes a real impact!
If you believe in the power of creativity and entrepreneurship to strengthen our community, we invite you to make a donation to CCE by June 30th. Every gift helps us build a thriving creative economy.

Thank you for being part of our journey!

⚠️ Note: This blog post is part of our archives and may contain outdated information.

We’re excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Velocity Creative Accelerator. If you’re building a business in the creative sector and ready to grow, this is the opportunity for you.

Velocity is a 10-week program designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs. Through a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, expert mentorship, and peer collaboration, you’ll build business skills, strengthen your brand, and prepare to pitch for a seed stage grant.

Whether you’re launching, rebooting, or scaling, Velocity helps you take the next step with clarity and confidence.

We can’t wait to hear your big idea.

— The CCE Team