By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
Hello Alice, a fintech platform serving over 1.5 million small business owners, is providing more opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country to scale their enterprises. The company announced July 23 that it would expand its small business accelerators and Boost Camp programs in 2024.
(Photo courtesy of Hello Alice)
The Boost Camps, created in 2023, were designed to empower entrepreneurs with training and skill development to expedite the growth of their businesses. They also supply owners with a network of entrepreneurial peers for ongoing support.
“One of the greatest values that comes out of the Boost Camps is the connectivity to peers who are going through similar problems,” said Carolyn Rodz, co-founder and CEO of Hello Alice. “It’s one thing to learn from an expert that built a business 10 or 15 years ago. It’s another to hear from somebody who’s dealing with that issue right now in your industry and at your stage of growth.”
Hello Alice collaborates with the Global Entrepreneurship Network and corporate partners to run the Boost Camps. In 2024, Progressive Insurance, Antares Capital, Wells Fargo and FedEx will lead the programs.
The deadline for Antares Capital and Progressive Insurance’s Boost Camps has already passed. However, Wells Fargo will hold four virtual accelerator programs over the next 18 months. They will focus on business health and credit-building practices, and applications will be open until Aug. 16.
FedEx will also run a Boost Camp coaching program to supply business owners with funding, resources and networks to streamline the success of their ventures. The application period will be announced this fall.
“We are thrilled to witness the remarkable success and growth of the Boost Camp program initiated by Hello Alice,” said April Britt, director of global citizenship at FedEx, in a July 23 statement. “The impact it has had on small businesses nationwide is truly inspiring. Seeing the tangible improvements in business health and the increased optimism among participants underscores the value of providing tailored mentorship and resources.”
John Griveas, owner of Fetch Gourmet Dog Treats, participated in FedEx’s Boost Camp last year. His business, based in Buffalo, N.Y., manufactures and distributes handcrafted, all-natural dog biscuits, cookies, cakes and treats.
Griveas, and his wife and business partner, Jackie Lovern, discovered Hello Alice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair were looking for ways to keep their business going during the financially challenging time.
He said the funding and resources he received after being selected for the Boost Camp kept them from closing Fetch Gourmet Dog Treats.
“It quite literally saved our business. We were at a point where the facility we were manufacturing out of was getting ready to close, and they were kicking out all of their tenants,” said Griveas. “We had a very short period of time to find a new location. We found one but the issue was the place we were getting kicked out of was about half the cost of the new place.”
The funding enabled the husband and wife to secure the new facility. Griveas said his biggest takeaway from the Boost Camp was that he is not alone.
“The people who you meet and talk to have gone through what you’re struggling with right now,” said Griveas. “They’re able to help you navigate, and, in turn, you are able to do the same for them. You start building relationships that could make a difference in your brand.”
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