Women’s Business Builder Takes on Cohort

WEOC Launch Women Business Builders MKG Workshop (photo courtesy of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center)

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Four new Indiana businesses have begun a year-long program for female business owners. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center in Fort Wayne says the Launch Women Business Builder Program helps women-owned businesses launch, grow, and accelerate their online and tech ventures.

The WEOC says the cohort includes a mix of startups and established businesses.

“Each cohort develops its own language. Cohort members finish each other’s sentences and come to understand each business and each owner. In that tightknit community, dreams are shared, achieved, and celebrated. Owners set goals and are held accountable with tough love and understanding only a fellow business owner can give,” said Leslee Hill, WEOC director.

The businesses included in the new cohort include:

• Kandy Kurves Boutique, an e-tail store and offers plus-size women’s clothing.
• On Track SRM, a technology company that helps schools and parents keep young learners with special needs on track with their emotions and studies.
• Project Andrew, founded by Meghan Britton Gross, the business will offer support to secondary grievers, such as siblings, who have suffered the death of a sibling.
• The Greater Good of Northeast Indiana, offering professional networking, event planning, and marketing support to nonprofit organizations, led by CEO Jennifer Norris-Hale.

“I am participating in this program to find the proper resources to help my business grow revenue. I started my business in 2018 and stopped it several times due to the lack of income. So, it’s important to me to learn how about revenue growth, to find mentors and identify grants for my small business,” said Shaneshia Rogan, chief executive officer of Kandy Kurves Boutique.

The organization says the tech-focused companies have developed apps or websites for real estate, ridesharing, the interior design industry, education, wellness, online shopping, an art studio, and membership-based programs and products.

To date, the organization says its program has served 30 companies.