The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship launched ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative to provide aspiring entrepreneurs and startup founders with valuable resources that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. The 11-month program begins with a six-week bootcamp which includes lectures from special guests like leaders in the entrepreneurship world, professors, accountants, lawyers, bankers, and administrators from federal, state and local community organizations that support small businesses. The experience gave our entrepreneurs the chance to establish meaningful business connections, gain invaluable insights, and grow their ventures.
Jamila Harvey
ImpactNJ inaugural boot camp graduate Jamila Harvey shares how the boot camp is helping turn a pandemic hobby into a growing business. Jamila is a Trinidadian immigrant who dedicated her focus towards finding natural ingredients that promote hair growth, solving a common and personal issue. Jamila created HALO Premium Organic Hair Care, LLC to provide healthy and organic hair care solutions supporting overall scalp health.
Michael Charity
ImpactNJ inaugural boot camp graduate Michael Charity speaks about how the six weeks provided strong community, important resources, and valuable insights and information that he is now implementing into his business. Michael runs a social media agency, Caldiro, that creates and manages social media posts for various companies.
Adonia Maceira
ImpactNJ inaugural boot camp graduate Adonia Maceira shares how the program helped make it clear that cooking can be more than just a passion, but a real business. The boot camp helped spark Adonia’s self-belief and self-confidence and turned a love of cooking for others into a tangible and achievable business idea. Adonia loves cooking for friends and family and decided to pursue entrepreneurship and establish Don’s Delicious Delights to set an example showing that you can pursue your passion at any age, and that believing in yourself is the first step.
Victoria Funn
ImpactNJ inaugural boot camp graduate Victoria Funn said that the program has answered many of her business questions and has been especially helpful with social media and marketing for her food business Green Genius. A U.S. military veteran, Funn turned to entrepreneurship to help improve her own eating habits and to promote health and wellness to others. Green Genius blends food with education to provide nutrient-dense meals that are designed to support the body, educate the customer, and still taste great.
About the Program
Seton Hall’s UPBI program is a collaboration between the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. The initiative is part of a national movement working to close the wealth gap through entrepreneurship and community partnership.
For more information, contact Susan Scherreik at [email protected] or call ImpactNJ at (973) 275-4100.