White’s of Westport hosted a talented group of 15 entrepreneurs that celebrated the culmination of a 12-week intensive Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Accelerator Program. After much success in Lowell and Lawrence, EforAll expanded its operations to the South Coast in 2015. The entrepreneurs showcased their products and services a in a room that was full of positivity and high energy. Over 100 people attended the exciting event. EforAll awarded $15,000 in cash prizes and an additional dedicated award to the entrepreneurs mentioned below. The cohort will also have more opportunities throughout the year to be awarded cash prizes, as EforAll provides additional support for the next 9 months of this year long program.
The event’s keynote speaker was John Vasconcellos of Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, who delivered a profound and impactful speech to all. He opened by quoting Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” His own words from the evening may not be remembered word for word however the genuine encouragement that he gave to the entrepreneurs and the rest of the crowd empowered their visions of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Accelerator participant, Darlene Sicard, of D’s Lectables delivered an emotional speech on behalf of her accelerator colleagues whom she referenced as her “E family”. She creatively made reference to each member of the Winter 2018 cohort and spoke about the immense support and lifelong connections that they have all made through the program.
The winners of the $15,000 were:
Scatterbrain Handmade: $4000
Lisamarie Pearson of Wareham, MA creates plush toys from recycled fabrics that make great gifts and are used as therapy aids for children with sensory issues.
D’s Lectables: $3,500
Darlene Sicard of Seekonk, MA owns a baking company that caters to diet and lifestyle customizations and creative recipes.
Code Equal: $3000
Keniesha Mendes of New Bedford, MA runs a technology based nonprofit training program for low income, underrepresented women to help bring diversity to the local technology industry.
Knew Potato Caboose: $2500
Katherine Subocz of Dartmouth, MA owns a food truck that specializes in ethnic inspired loaded french fries and custom catering.
eekMD: $2000
April Khadijah Inniss of Boston, MA creates fun, interactive STEM-based health education workshops to empower kids to advocate for their own health. All content is created and delivered by a pediatrician, so kids get just what they need to lay a solid foundation for future health.
Christina Hamilton Award Winner – Doodles Creative Session: $500
Samia Walker of New Bedford, MA was chosen as the recipient of the Christina Hamilton Award which is given to the member of the cohort who demonstrated grit and determination while enduring the program. Walker runs a children’s group that focuses on building social skills and positive interactions through creativity.
