Success Stories
Kara Oliver-Pérez noticed her niece was struggling with identity and it brought her back to her own youth when she had similar feelings about being (what she terms) “a dark-skinned black girl.” She recognized the lack of children’s books featuring BIPOC characters in the marketplace so she self-published her first award-winning book. But she didn’t stop there. She founded Native Pens Collaborative Publishing with a mission to create works and programming centered around diverse storytelling, DEI programming/consulting, and access to culturally relevant literature.
She was looking for ways to expand and scale her business when she met Juweria Dahir, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at BNMC, who told her about the Winter 2022 Business Accelerator. Kara decided to apply for it, hoping to learn more about business and get extra guidance and support during this journey. “I wanted to make sure I would get support with social media and site development to attract more customers,” she recalls.
This Venture is Committed to Lifting Up Black Identity and Culture
Her favorite part of the program was meeting her colleagues and mentors. “The love and support that I received were absolutely phenomenal and inspiring. We support each other’s businesses and always show love to one another,” said Kara.
Since graduating from the program, Kara has hired an assistant to help her manage the increasing number of customers wanting to work with Native Pens Collaborative. “Before IC Success, I did not take my business seriously. I am now generating over $5,000/month in revenues because of the mentoring and advice I received!”
Follow Native Pens Collaborative Publishing on: https://www.instagram.com/nativepenspublishing/
This Venture Proves You Can Start a Business at Any Age!
During the pandemic, Rima Kahn and her daughter sought a gift bag for her daughter’s 8th-grade teachers. They didn’t find anything they liked, so they decided to make their own “grown-up goodie bag” with products from local small businesses to help support the community. People loved it, and Hometown Herd was launched!
With no business background, Rima was very interested when she heard about the IC Success program for entrepreneurs while visiting a local fair at BNMC, where she met Juweria Dahir, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at BNMC. She knew It would be the perfect opportunity to learn about all aspects of running her company. “I looked at program as a way of learning business vocabulary, terms, and concepts that I needed,” she recalls.
The camaraderie and bonding with her fellow entrepreneurs became her favorite part of the program. “It was very encouraging to have other people sharing their little wins or difficulties.” She said her mentors had the perfect background to help her with her business, and the weekly meetings were essential to keep her on track.
The camaraderie and bonding with her fellow entrepreneurs became her favorite part of the program. “It was very encouraging to have other people sharing their little wins or difficulties.” She said her mentors had the perfect background to help her with her business, and the weekly meetings were essential to keep her on track.
Throughout the program, she fine-tuned her target market and now sells her products on a business-to-business model, with many local real-state agencies as clients. Hometown Herd sales are up 40%, and she has found she is more efficient and can work fewer hours. “IC Success gave me the confidence I needed– at 50 years old–to start my business!”
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Bringing delicious comfort food to Buffalo
Greg Crenshaw has loved to cook since he was a child, helping his mom make her famous fried chicken or delicious lasagna. After selling chicken wings with unique sauces for two years, he decided to focus on his specialty––chicken and waffles. He opened Crenshaw’s Chicken and Waffles in 2020 to offer delicious comfort food to the Buffalo community.
When he learned about the Winter 2022 Business Accelerator, he thought it would be the perfect opportunity to learn more about business management and ways to take his business to the next level. “It doesn’t matter how good you cook or what type of business you have, if you don’t get the fundamentals to lay down your foundation, you’re not gonna succeed.”
Greg was amazed by the range of important topics covered during the classes. In addition, networking with other entrepreneurs and his mentor team, who helped him apply all of what he saw in class to his business, was extremely important.
Since graduating from the program, Greg Crenshaw has launched a website and invested in new marketing initiatives to promote his business. Sales have increased by over 20%, and he plans to launch a food trailer this summer!
Follow Crenshaw’s Chicken and Waffles on:
This Baker is Dreaming Big in Buffalo
A couple of years ago, Latoya Pointer’s daughter asked her for a guitar-shaped birthday cake. She went to many bakeries but couldn’t find anyone to make this cake so she decided to do it herself. It was a hit! Her friends started to ask her to make their kids’ birthday cakes, and Bee Sweet Cakery was born.
When she was opening her cakery, she heard about BNMC’s IC Success Business Accelerator and decided to apply. “I needed guidance and direction. I had no idea how to run a business,” recalls Latoya.
She loved learning about running her own company, but the cohort itself was her favorite part of the program. Meeting other entrepreneurs, who became friends she could call on good and bad days, was really helpful to Latoya. Her mentors made the experience even better. “They were always there for me, supporting me, showing up at my events. They were 100% dedicated to my success!”
Since graduating from the program, Bee Sweet Cakery has been steadily growing. Latoya sells Bee Sweet products in two different Buffalo stores. She has participated in the local Restaurant Week and partnered with a party planner to provide catering for her events. “IC Success took the fear out of entrepreneurship. It gave me the self-confidence to see myself as the CEO of my company,” says Latoya.
Innovation-As-A-Service
“I reached out to Matt to get his feedback, and he immediately jumped into action,” said Dan Rifkin, M.D., Medical Director of Sleep Medical Centers of WNY. “I wanted to transform my business, and he gave me the tools to do so.”
Success Stories
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