After eight weeks of workshops and lessons from professionals, 11 entrepreneurs gave five-minutes pitches about their businesses—some starting from scratch, others refining and perfecting.
The second graduating class of
ArtWorks’ Springboard program featured art studios, food delivery and music workshops. Once again, the eight-week course gave entrepreneurial hopefuls from many different phases of life chances to gain insights on their ideas and the know-how to write sound business plans.
De Stewart, owner of
Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices at Findlay Market, gave a keynote at the event. He urged SpringBoarders to hold onto their dreams and told them that passionate breeds possibility. After their presentations, every presenter thanked SpringBoard.
One presenter, Caitlin Behle, started SpringBoard without a clear direction. Eight weeks later, Behle plans on launching the Cincinnati Music Initiative next year, which will host workshops for musicians to talk about the industry, as well as develop a website that gives venues, bands and fans a place to find out everything about Cincinnati music. She also has a full five-year plan in the works.
Matt Anthony of
Losantiville Collective, an artist workshop on Main Street, already has a growing clientele and group of artists who rent space and share tools in his studio-salesroom hybrid. With SpringBoard, though, Anthony wants keep more artists in Cincinnati by being able to purchase more tools and more space for the handcrafting details that Losantiville promotes.
With the second class now graduated, SpringBoard has launched 30 entrepreneurs into the world with more business expertise and the confidence to run a successful business. With the third class already in session and the fourth planned for 2012, Sarah Corlett, SpringBoard coordinator, needs more experts to help enhance the collaborative learning experience.
Also in the works is more space for SpringBoard classes. ArtWorks plans to create a workshop space in the place the current Secret ArtWorks gallery. With more room and the ability to hold more classes, SpringBoard can help and inspire a new generation of creative entrepreneurs looking to build their businesses, and their futures, in Cincinnati.
By Evan Wallis
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.