Winston Salem, NC – March 16th, 2022 – Nine idea-stage entrepreneurs earned awards during the Center for Creative Economy’s Kinetic Creative Bootcamp final presentation.

Kinetic. Discover your customer and ignite your idea.

a program of the Center for Creative Economy (Winston-Salem, NC USA)

CCE accepted nine creative entrepreneurs from Winston Salem, NC to participate in Kinetic, a 4-week cohort-based program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs workshop their early-stage creative business ideas and explore their customer base. Weekly curriculum (with in-person and remote options) is taught by a team of subject matter experts who mentor and counsel founders. Kinetic graduates have successfully launched their startups, earned spots in business accelerators, and secured grants.

The 4-week boot camp culminated in a final presentation where founders gave a five-minute pitch to CCE’s mentors and special guests. 

Anne Marie Designs, provides a private atelier experience to every bride, with inclusive sizing, exceptional value, and one-on-one attention from their designer. They were awarded the Legal Award that consisted of $1,500 of legal services, which is estimated to be around four hours from Jeff Wolfe with Schell Bray.

The Mom League is created by moms – for all moms – here to help new moms thrive, and is located in Winston-Salem, NC. They were granted $1,000 from The Center for Creative Economy’s award, The Kinetic Potential Award as well as the Flywheel Coworking Space Award of 1 month free access to Flywheel facilities. The Mom League was also recognized for the most customers interviewed Award. 

Riot Golf, a golf brand designed for women, was granted the Social Media Award with the prize of three 45-minute pro-bono marketing consulting sessions with Daryl Shaw with Royalty Marketing.  They were also awarded the Flywheel Coworking Space award of 1 month free access to Flywheel facilities.

ReadySetGo Media provides “turn-key” marketing campaigns designed specifically for the HVAC industry. This company was awarded the Cohort Choice Award with the prize of a  Jenni Earle bandana! ReadySetGo Media also won the Top Website Landing Page Award. 

Dash City Gaming & Media, is a Winston-Salem-based gaming and multimedia production crew that strives to create a community of like-minded individuals who know how to work hard and play even harder. Dash City Gaming and Media were awarded the Top Financial Forecast Award. 

Colllab is an app that provides a centralized platform for fostering connections between professional collaborative pianists and those in need of their services. Colllab earned the award of most improved throughout the four-week-long Bootcamp. 

Spirited provides traditional, lecture-driven tours that are lively, engaging, educational, and crafted by experts. This team won the Flywheel Coworking Space Award of 1 month free access to Flywheel facilities. 

Within Kinetic’s performance competition, mentors reviewed each company’s documents including a financial forecast, marketing one-page collateral, and website landing pages. Our mentors provided helpful feedback and comments.  A special thanks to Jenni Earle Hopkins, founder of Jennie Earle who delivered an inspirational mentor session on the final day. 

CCE extends a special thanks to our sponsors for the Kinetic 2022 boot camps. These include The Winston Salem Foundation, Truist Foundation, Twin City Development Foundation, and Forsyth County.    

Center for Creative Economy – Launching creativity – Winston-Salem, NC USA

The Center for Creative Economy provides inception-stage business training to help artists and other creatives develop viable businesses. Our customized education and mentorship programs fulfill our mission to launch, grow, and accelerate creative businesses. 

A nonprofit organization, CCE strives to strengthen the creative economy and the creative community in Winston-Salem, NC, and beyond. Since 2016 CCE has helped launch 56 creative startups in its accelerator, 67% of which were founded by women and 53% by minorities. Today, 83% of those companies are still thriving, and 167 jobs have been created.

Our cohorts have earned $10 million in revenue and raised $11 million in investment. CCE continues to support founders with mentorship and accountability as their businesses grow.

www.CCETRIAD.com

Press Release- The Center for Creative Economy will host SHINE, a creative showcase and celebration to honor its 10th anniversary, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022. The event will be held from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at The Ramkat, 170 W. 9th St., in Winston Salem. www.ccetriad.com/shine. The Champion sponsor for this event is NC IDEA.

SHINE is a fundraising catalyst to support the challenge made by 12 generous donors last year. They donated $110,000 and CCE is working to match that amount. The funds will be used to support CCE programs, including the CCE Launch Fund for creative entrepreneurs, and provide sustainability for the future.  

The festivities begin with a keynote address by creative entrepreneur Susan Jaffe, the current Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the former Dean of the School of Dance at UNCSA.  A performance showcase will follow featuring SHINE, a World Premier choreographed by Madalyn Bailey, and danced by UNCSA dance alumni.   

A unique feature of the evening will be the Photography Showcase sponsored by Vivid Metal Prints.  CCE has launched a Photo Contest, details at this link, to draw images that capture the movement and spirit of its programs, Kinetic, Momentum, and Velocity. The winner in each category receives $100 and the opportunity to be showcased at the event.  Vivid Metal Prints will create large scale photos using their signature metal process of the winning images which will be auctioned that night at Shine. Deadline for photo submission is April 25th. 

Throughout the evening, CCE will feature a Product Showcase of artisanal goods created by participants in its Velocity and Kinetic programs. For more information and to register for SHINE visit www.ccetriad.com/shine.

Winston Salem, NC – March 22th, 2022 – Nine idea-stage entrepreneurs earned awards during the Center for Creative Economy’s Kinetic Creative Bootcamp’s final presentation. 

CCE accepted nine creative teams all from Winston Salem, NC to participate in Kinetic, a 4-week cohort-based program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs workshop their early-stage creative business ideas and explore their customer base. Weekly curriculum (with in-person and remote options) is taught by a team of subject matter experts who mentor and counsel founders. Kinetic graduates have successfully launched their startups, earned spots in business accelerators, and secured grants.

The 4-week boot camp culminated in a final presentation where founders gave a five-minute pitch to CCE’s mentors and special guests. Below are the participating teams and awards received. 

The Mom League – is founded by moms, Annie Chambers and Kelly Maxey,  with the goal of helping all new moms thrive. They were granted  the Kinetic Potential Award of $1,000, from the Center for Creative Economy. Other awards received include the Flywheel Coworking Space Award of 1-month free access to the Flywheel facilities. The Mom League was also recognized for interviewing the most customers which is required in the Kinetic program. 

Colllab – founded by Arianna Bohning, is an app that provides a centralized platform for fostering connections between professional collaborative pianists and those in need of their services. Arianna earned the Most Improved Award for her work throughout the four-week Boot Camp. 

Spirited – founded by Natalie Scarritt, provides traditional, lecture-driven tours of Winston-Salem that are lively, engaging, educational, and crafted by experts. This team won the Flywheel Coworking Space Award of 1-month free access to Flywheel facilities. 

Riot Golf –  founded by Kirsten Schambra Stevens, a golf brand designed for women, was granted the Social Media Award consisting of three 45-minute pro-bono marketing consulting sessions with Daryl Shaw of Royalty Marketing. They were also awarded the Flywheel Coworking Space award of 1-month free access to Flywheel facilities.

Anne Marie Designs –  founded by Anne Pembaur, provides a private atelier experience for brides, with inclusive sizing, exceptional value, and one-on-one attention from their designer. They were awarded the Kinetic Legal Award consisting of $1,500 of pro bono legal services, from Jeff Wolfe of  Schell Bray.

ReadySetGo Media –  founded by Seth Wingate, provides “turn-key” marketing campaigns designed specifically for the HVAC industry. This company was awarded the Cohort Choice Award with the prize of a  Jenni Earle bandana! ReadySetGo Media also won the Top Website Landing Page Award. 

Dash City Gaming & Media – founded by Paul Stevens and Jefferson Nicholson, is a Winston-Salem-based gaming and multimedia production team that strives to create a community of like-minded individuals who know how to work hard and play even harder. Dash City Gaming and Media were awarded the Kinetic Top Financial Forecast Award. 

Such-N-Such Media –  founded by Timothy Beeman, provides ​personalized media for business and entertainment needs. Their services include podcast production, podcast consulting, voice-overs, a/v production and editing, social media management, and emcee/event host services. 

Blackfish– founded by Mandez Douthit,  is a full-service talent management and marketing agency that develops, enhances, and manages brands for organizations and individuals.

Within Kinetic’s performance competition, mentors reviewed each company’s documents including a financial forecast, marketing one-page collateral, and website landing pages. Our mentors provided helpful feedback and comments.  A special thanks to Jenni Earle Hopkins, founder of Jennie Earle who delivered an inspirational talk on the final day. 

CCE extends a special thanks to our sponsors for the Kinetic 2022 boot camps. These include The Winston Salem Foundation, Truist Foundation, Twin City Development Foundation, and Forsyth County.    

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The Center for Creative Economy provides inception-stage business training to help artists and other creatives develop viable businesses. Our customized education and mentorship programs fulfill our mission to launch, grow, and accelerate creative businesses. 

A nonprofit organization, CCE strives to strengthen the creative economy and the creative community in Winston-Salem, NC, and beyond. Since 2016 CCE has helped launch 56 creative startups in its accelerator, 67% of which were founded by women and 53% by minorities. Today, 83% of those companies are still thriving, and 167 jobs have been created.

Our cohorts have earned $10 million in revenue and raised $11 million in investment. CCE continues to support founders with mentorship and accountability as their businesses grow.

www.CCETRIAD.com

Center for Creative Economy receives $20,000 grant from Truist Foundation 

Winston-Salem, NC – March 18, 2021 – The Center for Creative Economy announced today it has received a $20,000 grant from the Truist Foundation in support of the 2021 Kinetic Boot Camp for creatives.  “We are excited to announce this funding for CCE’s thriving programs for early stage entrepreneurs. Our cohort from Winston-Salem and across the country enter their final week preparing to deliver their business pitches.  CCE serves all creative entrepreneurs and this grant helps bring more businesses to life in 2021,” according to Margaret Collins, Founding Executive Director. 

Kinetic kicked off in February with a three-day opening event, welcoming creative entrepreneurs and mentors. The 4-week boot camp culminates in the Kinetic Finale on March 27 where business founders pitch to CCE’s mentors, sponsors, and partner network. The final pitches begin at 1:45pm and are followed by award announcements. 

Of the startups chosen for Kinetic, 67% are run by women entrepreneurs. Kinetic is an intensive program that helps creative entrepreneurs define their target customers, validate their idea, and develop a financial forecast and business model. Entrepreneurs work with professional mentors to guide them through the next steps in the boot camp and beyond.

 “As a creative, there is something special about being in a room with other like minded entrepreneurs, and the support has been fantastic,” said Kinetic cohort member Jonathan Dockery, founder of The Downtown Art Academy  in Winston-Salem. 

Truist Foundation is the lead funder of Kinetic sessions in Spring and Fall 2021.  CCE thanks Truist Foundation for supporting and acknowledging creative entrepreneurs and startups and their contributions to our community and beyond.  

CCE wishes to acknowledge additional sponsors who have helped make the Kinetic Boot Camp 2021 possible. These include DataMax Foundation, now known as Twin City Development Foundation, NC IDEA, Builders and Backers Studio, Parsec Financial, and Salem College.

The Spring 2021 cohort is using their creative talents to bring innovation to their industries. Below is a brief overview of their ideas:

(Winston-Salem, NC): THE DOWNTOWN ART ACADEMY – Makes traditionally exclusive arts education accessible for all. Students gain access to the best classical art education.

(Winston-Salem, NC): FOISEIL – Hand poured soy and coconut wax candles and natural body care products.

(Winston-Salem, NC): DELISH BRANDING CO – Helping hospitality businesses succeed with creative, effective marketing solutions.

(Greensboro, NC): XCEPTIONAL EMPIRE – Digital subscription-based membership for creatives who struggle to find a sense of community, networking opportunities, and ways to exercise their craft.

(Zionsville, IN): ZANMI FONDWA – Fosters community by hiring Haitians to build high-quality homes for their neighbors, engaging new homeowners to give back to the community through volunteer service and financial contribution to their new home.

(Winston Salem, NC): WINSTON SALEM ART SUPPLY – Local, independent, brick and mortar retailer of quality art supplies in downtown.

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The Center for Creative Economy (CCE) provides inception stage business training to expand the capacity of creatives and artists to emerge as viable entrepreneurs. Learning critical skills at the beginning of a creative founder’s journey is vital for success. Our customized education and mentorship programs fulfill our mission to Launch, Grow, and Accelerate creative entrepreneurs and businesses. www.CCETRIAD.com

The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on leadership development, economic mobility, thriving communities and educational equity. Learn more at www.truist.com/truist-foundation. 

Contact:  Nicole Gentles, nicole@ccetriad.com  336-897-6075

Four idea-stage entrepreneurs earned awards during the Center for Creative Economy’s Kinetic Creative Bootcamp final presentation.

CCE accepted four creative entrepreneurs from Winston Salem, NC and Berlin, Germany to participate in Kinetic, a 4-week intensive entrepreneurial program guaranteed to turn creative ideas into growing businesses. Throughout the program, participants showed immense growth in validating their creative ideas, developing strong business models, identifying consumer bases, and building sustainable budgets.

The 4-week bootcamp culminated in a final presentation where founders gave a five minute pitch to CCE’s mentor and investor network. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CCE conducted its final Kinetic presentation in a hybrid format on December 5, welcoming limited in-person attendees at 500 W Fifth Street in Winston Salem and external attendees via Zoom.

DIY Advisor, a Winston Salem-based platform that connects first time homeowners with experts in home improvement, was granted a $3,000 technology consultation package from Sightsource to further develop their software. Founder Angela Strader won the pitch competition and received CCE’s Financial Award which included four hours of pro-bono financial consulting  from Bonnie Bowen Advisors. 

SURU Together, a Berlin-based company, presented their PSiCHArt co-creativity interface that conducts team building through art. PSiCHArt allows companies to host live-streamed events that foster real-time collaboration through arts programming. Founders Nicollo Pescatelli and Georgina Denis joined Kinetic virtually from Berlin due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SURU received The CCE Marketing award which includes 3 hours of pro bono consulting from Daryl Shaw’s Royalty Marketing. 

Shairpins, a Winston-Salem based jewelry and accessory company focused on women’s empowerment, received a $300 business coaching package from ActionCOACH. Sheridan Watkins, founder and crafter, also received the CCE Business Consulting Award which includes 3 hours of pro-bono consulting with Dawn Booker, a professional strategic communications and marketing consultant.

Experiential Outdoor Education, founded by Scott Sanders, provides enriching outdoor and educational experiences through hiking, paddling, and camping adventures. Sanders was awarded $1,500 in pro-bono legal services by Jeff Wolfe at Schell Bray.

Within Kinetic’s performance competition, mentors reviewed each company’s documents including a financial forecast, marketing one page collateral, and website landing pages. Our mentors provided helpful feedback and comments.  A special thanks to Jenni Earle Hopkins, founder of  Jennie Earle who provided an inspirational mentor session on the final day. 

Flywheel CoWork, a community coworking innovation space and CCE’s home base, presented membership awards to all four Kinetic participants. Flywheel also offers self-directed entrepreneurial courses that further develop business skills and expand start-up networks. DIY Advisor received a 6 month membership; Shairpins, a 3 month membership; Outdoor Experiential, a 2 month membership; and SURU a 1 month virtual membership that includes access to virtual educational programming.

Of the 2020 Kinetic cohort chosen for the program, 75% are female and 50% are people of color. 

CCE extends a special thanks to our sponsors for the Kinetic 2020 boot camps. These include NC IDEA, DataMax, Parsec Financial, Salem Academy and College.