Beyond Launch: Celebrating Business Launch Graduate Growth
Following their graduation from Flint Hills Business Launch (FHBL) the Spring ’23 cohort of graduates ventured into a dynamic state of entrepreneurial growth and accomplishment. In this series, “Where Are They Now?” , we highlight the notable strides and victories attained by these entrepreneurs in the aftermath of their FHBL experiences. Highlighting the evolution of their ventures in the latter half of the year, each feature illuminates the remarkable achievements, milestones and breakthroughs accomplished since their graduation. As we explore their journeys, we uncover the enduring impact of FHBL, acting as a driving force behind their continued success, shedding light on the diverse pathways these graduates have forged in their pursuit of entrepreneurial excellence.
Meet Melissa Soldan, owner of Lil’ Munchkins Children’s Boutique
Discover the experience of Melissa Soldan, owner of Lil’ Munchkins Children’s Boutique, as she reveals insights regarding her business mentality and showcases her achievements since participating in Business Launch. Click on the questions below to review her responses.
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“Our products are selected to celebrate life’s everyday memories. When creating looks we select items that are not only cute, but easy for kids to put on. It can take them from a family picture to playing with cousins. We also have fun accessories and toys to make gifting easy in one shop.”
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“Our most exciting accomplishment in the past 6 months was being a vendor at Holiday Boutique. We have been shopping at this event for over 20 years and always dreamed of having a booth where we can help people select gifts to celebrate the holiday season! The extra excitement was we had people come to the event that were there to see US!!! Over 1,000 vendors and they came to see Lil’ Munchkins!”
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“Business Launch has given me an extra excitement to be a BOSS BABE! I have been able to have a little extra smile when people come to shop events, comment on Facebook. It also taught me that all the little things add - up. Take the extra minute to make a post on Facebook, and make sure to show your face. Customers love to see who is working behind our small businesses. And last… do the happy dance! It’s ok if you get one order or 100… each order is something that somebody picked because you have something special!”
Meet Natalie Barlett, Owner of Gifts by Natalie
Discover the captivating story behind Natalie Barlett, the creative mind and owner behind Gifts by Natalie, as she unveils her insights and innovative approaches to crafting personalized gifts that spread joy. Click on the questions below to review her insights.
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“I help to spread joy by curating unique and thoughtful gifts for busy people! This service is unique as the gifts are customized to your gift recipient and the items included in the gift are often purchased from other local, small businesses.”
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“Since participating in the Business Launch, I have worked with an impressive mentor who helped to shift my thinking and perspective to make necessary steps in my business. Those steps turned into increases in personal as well as professional gifting clients, a refined process for connecting with the right potential clients, and a website restructuring. Sales have also increased due to adding a "build your own" gifting component to my vendor events to give customers the ability to customize gifts on their own.”
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“Business Launch was full of valuable information to create and sustain a business, and the information was adaptable to any form of business idea. It was also an experience that allowed me to meet other entrepreneurs in similar spaces on their business journeys. Those amazing entrepreneurs have become the best business friends as we challenge and support each other as we grow. Following the launch, we were also provided the opportunity to work with a mentor and create accountability cohorts. The benefits have not ended! It is truly an invaluable experience that small businesses should take advantage of!”
To get a visual glimpse of Gifts by Natalie services, browse through the gallery below showcasing previous crafted gifts.
Meet Mentoria Green, Owner of Black Paradise Doulas
Discover the profound expertise of Mentoria Green, doula and owner of Black Paradise Doulas, by exploring her invaluable insights though clicking on the questions below.
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“In my role as a full-spectrum doula, I provide a comprehensive range of services to support parents throughout their journey into parenthood. My services are distinct as I am the sole provider in my area offering such an extensive range of services. I was inspired to pursue this path after recognizing my own need for assistance during my own experience with childbirth and finding such resources were not readily available. As a result, I became the support I needed and strive to offer the same level of care and comfort to others.”
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“This year, I have achieved several significant milestones. I’m proud to have been featured in three separate articles, which is a rare accomplishment for a Black woman in my field. Additionally, I applied to and gained acceptance into a highly competitive midwifery school, which is another noteworthy achievement that I’m stoked about!”
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“The Business Launch course equipped me with a vital lesson: Networking is critical to success. By establishing connections with people and promoting my services, I gained visibility and credibility. After all, how can one expect to expand their business if no one is aware of its existence?”
Meet Victoria Mutinda, Owner of Kiki’s Events
Explore the intricacies of Victoria Mutinda's entrepreneurial journey as the creative force behind Kiki's Events by clicking on the questions below for her event-planning insights and experiences.
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“We are an event supplies and decorating business - a one-stop-shop for all event needs including balloon décor, picnic setups, soft play, bumper car arena, and sleepovers. What makes us unique is that we come to you, and we have everything you need for a successful event.”
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“By the end of the class, we had come up with a business model which helped us participate in the Black Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition, where we won $1000. We invested back into the business by paying for a booking system, which has streamlined our backend stock management and booking processes.”
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“Business Launch helped us improve in various aspects such as time management, pricing, marketing and building our business model.”
To get a visual glimpse of Kiki's Events services, browse through the gallery below showcasing their offerings and past event highlights.
