Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) Fourth Cohort Announced
City of Atlanta’s Incubator Program for Women-Owned Business Welcomes 15 New Participants
In a celebration of Women’s History Month, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced the members of the latest Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) cohort at Invest Atlanta’s March 2022 board meeting. The only municipally funded program of its kind in the nation, WEI provides women-owned businesses an incubator that fosters and promotes community and spurs business growth through access to resources and mentoring.
“A key to making our city equitable is ensuring that we provide resources to enable women entrepreneurs to overcome challenges they can face growing a successful business – and WEI does just that.”
“I am proud that the City of Atlanta is not only committed to supporting women entrepreneurs but also leading the nation with a program like the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “A key to making our city equitable is ensuring that we provide resources to enable women entrepreneurs to overcome challenges they can face growing a successful business – and WEI does just that. Congratulations to this latest cohort of talented women as they join the women of WEI.”
WEI was launched in 2015 with the support of the City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta. It has not only enriched the lives and careers of many women, but also made a significant economic impact on the city. The first three WEI cohorts have created more than 600 jobs for in the city of Atlanta and WEI entrepreneurs have garnered more than $4.3 million in capital investment.
“The American Progress Organization found that four times as many women as men dropped out of the labor force in September 2020, roughly 865,000 women compared with 216,000 men. And as of February 2022, the cumulative number increased to 2.3 million,” said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta. “This is one of the reasons why programs like WEI are so important because it fosters personal and economic resiliency and ultimately equitable growth in our city.”
The latest cohort of participants and businesses includes:
• Destiny Brewton, A HOUSE CALLED HUE LLC
• Chastity Oakes, Arise Health Institute LLC
• Tiffani Neal, Barlow’s Foods
• Mamie Harper, Carrie’s Closet of Georgia
• Skania Florestal, HBCUMADE
• Jeannette Flores-Katz, Kosher Guacamole
• Ameerah Anakaona Bello, Mathematician, Jr.
• Carnellia Ajasin, Mind Katalyst
• Claudine Miles, Restore More
• Rochelle Porter, Rochelle Porter Design
• Karen Oettl, Save Face
• Erin Croom, Small Bites Adventure Club
• Patricia Morgan, Ph.D., The Executive Learning Lab
• Tia Robinson, Vertical Activewear
• Krishna Chapatwala, Wine Shoe
“I want to thank these budding businesswomen for striving toward success with grit, fortitude and perseverance in the face of unparalleled obstacles,” said Monica Delores Hooks, executive director of WEI. “Atlanta, meet the extraordinary women of Cohort 4.”
Participants in the 15-month WEI program benefit from co-working space in the historic Flatiron Building and receive support in business education, financial literacy, marketing, and branding strategies, as well as mentoring and peer learning.
WEI has helped many women accelerate their growth as entrepreneurs, including Terri-Nichelle Bradley. Her company, BrownToy Box, makes STE[A]M children’s products that are culturally representative, accessible, and fun, so that Black children can see themselves positively represented. BrownToy Box recently announced that it received distribution in more than 1800 Target stores nationwide.