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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Community
The inaugural ‘Seed to Succeed’ event was hosted by One Eleuthera Foundation on Monday, August 31, 2020, where eight participants presented their business ideas in front of a panel of judges. Mark Palmer, the One Eleuthera Foundation (“OEF”) Social Enterprise Accelerator lead noted, “He was impressed by the eight participants all of whom are residents of Eleuthera” He further added, “The newly minted entrepreneurs represented a plethora of industries including esthetician services and waxing, mobile car detailing, landscaping, painting and construction”. The Seed to Succeed Program assisted participants with perfecting their business plans and sharpening their creativity and technological skills. Once they completed their plans, the participants pitched their business ideas before an experienced panel of judges to receive feedback and assistance with funding.
OEF CEO and President Shaun Ingraham added, “The participants showcased the wealth of knowledge and expertise of Eleutherans.” He further added, “We are incredibly thankful to our esteemed judges – Christian Sawyer, owner of Sunryse Information Management; Anya Ferguson, Finance Manager at The OEF Cooperative Credit Union Limited; Travis Miller, founder at Shift The Culture, Venture Coworking and Arrowlynk Adventures; Sameer Bhatti, Board of Director Member, One Eleuthera Foundation, USA and Avis Munroe, Senior Accounts and Reporting Officer at OEF.” Shaun Ingraham closed by expressing, “OEF is concerned with the economic development of Eleuthera, particularly since COVID-19, and we are doing what we can to strengthen entrepreneurship and financial inclusion in our community. We started Seed To Succeed to assist our own staff to become entrepreneurs, as well as the many graduates from our Learn to Earn programs. We hope to roll it out to the rest of Eleuthera soon. Finally, thank you to the Cotton Bay Foundation for program funding” The Seed to Succeed program is pleased to announce the following winners: 1. Landscaping hopeful Lashawn McPhee received a grant in the sum of $6,500.00 to assist with tool purchases and a deposit for a company vehicle. 2. Painter Breandra Whylly received a grant in the sum of $4,240.00 that would be used to purchase tools and a deposit for a company vehicle. 3. Randall Tynes received a grant in the sum of $3,750.00 that would be used to purchase tools and a deposit for a company vehicle. 4. Kendy Thompson received a grant in the sum of $3,060.00 that would be used for courses, tools and marketing. 5. Insworth Wallace received a grant in the sum of $2,450.00 that would be used for tools and marketing. As the program has embarked on providing another avenue of hope during hardships, the Seed to Succeed program envisions another cohort in the coming year.
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