By Meghann Naveau
“How can I help you?”
This frequent question is one that any shopper has heard countless times – and according to Sylvia NebSa Harmon, founder of Inspirit Arts in Africa and The Village to Vendor Pipeline, asking that question is one way pop-up vendors are making their jobs harder.
“How could our shoppers answer that question? Do they know what they need? And do they know if what you’re selling meets that need? That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone,” she told attendees of Launch Dayton Startup Week.
Instead, Sylvia shared her top do’s and don’ts for pop-up vendors to create memorable shopping experiences for their customers:
During the lesson, Sylvia also cut down the notion that a booth is a mini-store.
“The way we sell in those two settings must be very different,” she said. “People walk into a store to shop, likely with the intent of looking for something really specific. When customers are at a booth-style event like a farmer’s market or festival, though, they’re maybe shopping but also eating, playing, dancing, meeting friends and more. You have to get them connected with your product quickly to earn the sale.”
For more information and courses on the do’s and don’ts of pop-up vending, visit villagetovendor.com.
By Katie Aldridge
With experimental flavors and locally sourced ingredients, Cabin Fever Confections creates a unique dessert within a cookie. Marty Watson is the founder of Cabin Fever Confections, an offshoot of her 25-yearlong passion for cooking. For those with dietary restrictions, vegan, gluten-free, and keto, Cabin Fever Confection has you covered.
Marty is a member of the current cohort of Early Risers Academy, a 10-week business-building bootcamp powered by Launch Dayton partner Parallax Advanced Research. We recently caught up with Marty to learn more about Cabin Fever Confections and her entrepreneurial journey.
About five years ago, I was working in Alaska at a bakery/coffee shop, and I got really good at making cookies. When I realized how much I loved pushing the boundaries of standard recipes, it made sense to start my own business. Two years ago, I jumped into it and started at a farmer’s market in Fairbanks, Alaska. Then I moved back to Dayton and started my business back up.
What I love about the industry of food is that it is always changing. Food has an ability to evoke so many aesthetics, senses, and feelings. I am able to express myself through food, and I have so much passion for it. I love creating things that are unique to people. Food makes people happy.
I’ve had so many different professions. I like jobs that are fast-paced. I didn’t know that I wanted to work for myself, particularly. It just kind of happened. In my early 40s, I started thinking that I maybe wanted to do something for myself. I took a lot of classes, had life experiences, and had a lot of odd jobs, so no, I didn’t. Though, I think I was meant to be.
I’ve had a crazy, wild life. I’ve been through so much, and I’m able to deal with the unpredictability of what life throws at me. I have a wealth in strength; I’ve tapped into it, and I know it’s always there for me. I know I can get through anything, and I can make my business succeed.
Myself. My insecurities, my self-doubts, my self-sabotage. Right now, I’m trying to push past those barriers. I hadn’t thought about how long my business was going to be around, or what it was going to develop into. But in five years, I can see a vision for where I want it to be. I have the confidence now that what I have is good.
I’m quiet and reserved, but this is one way I can loudly get my passion across to people. If you’ve ever cooked for someone or made something you’re proud of, and someone really enjoys it, what more could you want? You just made someone really happy. It’s the same way for me — I love making special treats for people to indulge in.
When I first started setting my business up in 2019, I looked into small-business resources. I checked in with the SBDC and someone from Launch Dayton. Lynda Suda from 2nd Street Market is very active with Launch Dayton, she emails vendors about applying for the Retail Lab or Early Risers Academy.
Come see me at 2nd Street Market and follow me on Facebook and Instagram! And my Cabin Fever Confections website has updates about events I’ll be at, so keep an eye out for those! I’ll be at the Vegan Festival this September; I’ll have a full line of vegan and gluten-free cookies available.
Also, I love to document my work, and I’d love to add a blog or videos to my website. If someone could help me make that a part of my website, that would help me to interact with customers without them actually coming down.
It’s intense but there are so many great people, and it is a really cool program. Everyone is really supportive. There is a lot of great energy. They are bringing in a variety of businesses, so you can have insight into other types of marketing and businesses. Even though they might not all work with my industry, I can still learn from it. There is so much information, but it’s up to you to get things out of the course. I encourage other businesses to apply and join the program.
Dream of opening a vibrant storefront that contributes to your hometown community? Have an idea for the next great gadget? Looking to leave a legacy for your children in the form of a business you built from the ground up?
Early Risers Academy is a free, 10-week, cohort-based business class designed to help business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs build the foundations they need to make their businesses successful. More than 80 business owners have graduated the academy since it launched in late 2019.
“I could not talk to investors before Early Risers Academy,” says 2020 Academy graduate and What’s The Biz founder Te’Jal Cartwright. “Now, when I’m in a conversation about business, and they ask about projections or my business plan, I can give real answers.”
“You deserve to give your dreams, your idea, a try,” adds 2021 graduate and EvenYou founder Christian Johnson. “Early Risers Academy will make sure you are equipped. They will do everything in their power to make sure you succeed.”
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then Early Risers Academy is for YOU.
Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Early Risers Academy meet one evening a week for 10 weeks in a supportive environment that offers one-on-one coaching, access to networks and business support resources, accountability partners and business foundation-building.
Participants learn from the Dayton, Ohio region’s experts in areas including market research, financial projections, business taxes, customer discovery, prototype development & marketing. Each week also includes pitch coaching, graduates pitch their business for a chance at $1K in seed funding.
Participants will complete Kauffman FastTrac coursework from the nationally-renowned Kauffman Foundation, receive pitch coaching and hands-on mentoring, participate in weekly discussions with successful entrepreneurs and experts, & access Dayton’s entrepreneur and small business resources.
All cohort participants go home with valuable deliverables including market research, a completed business plan, and a high-quality pitch deck. And the culture of support carries beyond graduation.
The next cohort kicks off Oct. 11. Apply by Sept. 30 to be part of it!
Ohio Gateway Tech Fund is a $10M Ohio-based pre-seed fund focused on fedtech and dual-use technology startups with a defined value proposition and pathway to market — and it’s open for business.
The fund seeks to invest in approximately 14 early-stage technology companies, either in Ohio or willing to relocate to Ohio, prior to June of 2025.
Hale Capital Partners is the sole investment partner and General Manager of The Ohio Gateway Tech Fund. Hale Capital Partners currently has $160M+ assets under management, relationships within the Department of Defense, and a history of successful investment in early-stage technology startups.
Ohio Gateway Tech Fund will prioritize the following industries:
The fund will have the following investment focus:
Investment expectations and requirements:
Valuations will be determined on a case-by-case basis specific to each startup. OGTF is a pre-seed fund and, as such, post-investment valuations can typically be expected to range as follows:
For more info, contact:
By Katie Aldridge
Kandace Hunter is the founder of Caribbean Sweat Dayton, a health and fitness goal company for women founded in 2018. Kandace teaches classes for those from the ages of 7 to 70 with the goal of encouraging women to love their bodies, themselves, and wherever they are on their journey.
Kandace is a member of the current cohort of Early Risers Academy, a 10-week business-building course powered by Launch Dayton partner Parallax Advanced Research. We recently caught up with Kandace to learn more about the company and their entrepreneurial journey.
Caribbean Sweat Dayton came from when my now-husband and I went on vacation to Jamaica, and he proposed. A year later, we went back to get married. The ladies who were coordinating my wedding took us on a club tour. I loved the energy and the vibes of the clubs. When I was there, I had the idea to turn it into a fitness class. Caribbean Sweat Dayton is a love-letter to me and my husband and my love for fitness.
I have a passion for dance and movement; I am the most free and vulnerable when I’m dancing. It doesn’t take me a lot to do. It naturally comes to me and is authentic to me. When I’m teaching a class, I don’t have to think. I can’t put it into words — it’s organic. It is a natural gift that I put my own spin on.
No. I fell into this because I was laid off during the pandemic. I started posting on Facebook to see if anyone wanted to work out with me online for free. People were sitting at home with nothing else to do, so they joined. Then the gyms started opening back up, and I started there. It was not my plan to be an entrepreneur.
Risk taking, adaptability, and perseverance. As I’m learning how to maneuver this experience, I would say I’m a risk taker to a certain extent. I try things and if it doesn’t work out, I can say I at least tried. When it comes to entrepreneurship, I have to be able to adapt because I’ll have good months, bad months, steady months, months where I question why I’m here, and months where you know why.
My biggest barrier thus far is not knowing. There is no right way, there is no wrong way; there is just the way that fits me. My biggest barrier is navigating the ambiguity that comes with entrepreneurship and partnership. I have been in situations where I decided to do something, and I look back and realize I should have let it unfold on its own.
It’s so personal. It is the unspeakable connection I have between me, the kids, the other coaches, teams, and classes. My class has sustained on its own because of that connection. On some days, when I feel like I can’t do it, I’ll hear someone tell me that they were having a bad day and my class made them feel free, or a parent will tell me that their daughter is listening better, is doing well in school, or now has confidence in themselves. It’s those little pieces of the puzzle that make up the bigger picture.
Follow me on Facebook & Instagram! Any opportunities to teach in the community would be great. I have done a lot of collaborations with people who have the same audience. We tend to host a lot of free workouts, so look out for those and come to a class! I would love more opportunities to teach. Any kind of exposure would be great.
Last winter, I went to the Arcade to help some friends during the winter shopping day. I went to the last Early Risers pitch day. At both of those events, I signed up for emails. Eventually, I realized I should apply.
I like how much information I have received from the classes. It is a wonderful avenue for entrepreneurs. You could be wanting to start a business or in your business. It helps you put the pieces together that you may not know, or you can learn from someone who has more of a business acumen. We are networking in our own ways and learning about what other people are doing in the community.
In partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation and the National Urban League, the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio has launched The Foundation of Food Entrepreneurship Program under the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (BRAP). This is an accelerated and comprehensive 10-week business development program designed for African American food service business owners who want to build sustainable and scalable companies.
At the core of this program is a community of peers where classmates support and encourage one another to pursue business growth.
The course is guided by certified program directors, course facilitators, and subject matter experts. The highly selective program is limited to 10 participants per cohort.
Urban League’s objective is to help these businesses become profitable, nimble, and thrive.
The Foundation of Food Entrepreneurship Program will help you:
Eligible businesses must meet the following requirements:
Questions? Email Vanessa Sanchez, Program Manager, Economic Empowerment Center, Business Entrepreneurship Department at [email protected].
For Dayton’s first Startup Week in 2016, organizers swept floors in the then-vacant 444 building, set up wifi, and brought in furniture from their own homes.
In 2019, the conference carried on the week after more than a dozen tornadoes swept through the city, with attendees bringing water and supplies for community in need. In 2020, the conference went fully virtual amidst a global pandemic.
This year, we are fully back in-person in the historic Dayton Arcade complex, home to The Hub, the region’s center of entrepreneurship and innovation!
There is something for everyone at this gathering of entrepreneurs, business owners and startup founders.
This year’s lineup features 80+ speakers across 60+ sessions, ranging from inspirational fireside chats with founders sharing stories of failure and success to hands-on workshops that will enable you to dig in and work on your business and leave with something tangible you can implement the next day.
Aerialists will spin through the air as you groove to a live jam band and find your new favorite small business to support. Eats are free until we run out, and Startup Week attendees get first dibs!
This conference is made possible by our presenting sponsor, Fifth Third Bank, and our platinum sponsors, Parallax Advanced Research, Entrepreneurs’ Center, Canary Consulting, and Mile Two. We couldn’t do it without their generous support!
You have two more days to apply for this year’s Launch Dayton Startup Week Pitch Competition!
We’re looking for 10 founders to pitch for cash + services.
The innovation track is geared for tech-enabled startups or companies developing intellectual property that want to scale their business broadly & sell beyond the greater Dayton region. Winners will take home $5K in cash + $7,500 in services from Entrepreneurs’ Center and Converge Ventures.
The main street track is geared for companies that serve the local population such as restaurants, marketing firms, coffee shops, etc. The winner will take home $3K in cash.
So whether you’re building software or baking cupcakes, we want to hear from you!
To qualify, your business must:
• have less than $50K in revenue or investment to date
• be connected to the Dayton region
“Winning the pitch competition during Startup Week Dayton was by far one of the most exciting milestones yet for Baba Love Organics. It was my first time to compete among other small business owners and share the Baba Love vision in front of so many guests.”
— Vaniti Byrd, Founder, Baba Love Organics, & winner of the 2019 Startup Week Early Risers Pitch Competition
“It was a good day that honestly was a springboard for us. We made some great introductions. We learned about resources available in the area, and that was amazing and took us on a new trajectory.”
— Carlos Portis, Cofounder, Soft Cards, & winner of the 2018 Startup Week Early Risers Pitch Competition
APPLY BY AUG. 31. Finalists will be notified the week of Sept. 7. The pitch will be Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 4p. Finalists will have five minutes to pitch. A diverse panel of experts will judge the competition and select the winners.
By Katie Aldridge
Mariano Rios is a professional cook from Argentina and the founder of Matria, a pastry shop coming soon to the Dayton area. Matria creates traditional, Argentinian pastries, which originate from France, Italy, Spain, Northern Europe, and Africa.
Mariano is also the owner of the La Pampa Mobile Grill, a popular food truck operating for the past 10 years.
He recently joined Spark Fairborn. We caught up with him to learn more about Matria and his entrepreneurial journey.
Matria is a concept that started two years ago. I want to change my life a bit and manage my time around my family. The food truck business, even though it is good, is taking a lot of my time. After ten years, it is time to change energies and concepts. Matria is still gestating, but we are knocking on doors for help in starting this patisserie.
I don’t think there are enough good quality patisseries. As a professional cook, you have to be aware of the health, nutrition, and diet of the people in your community and area. There are few patisseries doing a respectful job regarding the ingredients. We are focusing on using real sugar, real eggs, and quality ingredients. The pastries have less than 10% of sugar. Not only am I thinking about the experience of having a treat at the beginning or end of the day, but also the nutritional value.
No, never. I grew up with a working-class father and mother. I thought I was going to be a professional cook. It’s why I went to culinary school and then to perfect my techniques in Europe. I thought that would be enough. Then I realized in Ohio that it is really hard to make a living. I was somehow forced to start my own business. I wanted my businesses to be as farm-to-table and high quality as possible. There are so many opportunities in the Miami Valley to be collaborative with other small businesses.
I don’t know if this type of question applies to me because I don’t think like a standard entrepreneur — start your business, develop it, grow it. I start my business, organize it, and then focus on my family. The next day, give the business whatever it needs, keep it rolling, and then back to family. I can’t really measure my thoughts of how I drive my business.
Spark Fairborn. I met Tonya Fish about ten years ago because she started the Dayton Food Truck Association. When Tonya started Spark, I looked into it, but I wasn’t ready. Now, I think Spark is very receptive. They have given me a space to work on the business, and they introduce us to many people that will help us grow Matria. Spark is having new people and management come in. Rebecca is there now, and she really takes the time to listen to me and understand where I want to go.
Everything. It depends on the time of my life or the season, but everything. Even when the process challenges me — if something comes out too hot, the dough rises too fast, something is too acidic, I have to figure out how to make it better for the next day. I open the doors of my shop and am with myself focusing on my work for eight hours, then when the doors close, I’m back to my family.
Pay attention to what we announce and try to understand as much information as we can give. That would be the best. For now, since it is a one-man show, follow Matria on Facebook and keep up to date with us there.
Curious if Spark Fairborn is the right place for your growing food & bev venture? Learn more here.
Pop-up arts performances in the beautiful, historic Arcade Rotunda. Small plates from up-and-coming food businesses. Interactive tech demos from local startup cos.
And it’s FREE!
We’re so excited to launch art. food. tech. fest!, a new closing party for Launch Dayton Startup Week, made possible through generous support from Culture Works.
Aerialists will spin through the air as you groove to a live jam band and find your new favorite small business to support. Eats are free until we run out! Continue your evening in Dayton by popping over to the free concert at the Levitt after the party, then make your way back to the Tank for Culture Works’ After the Levitt.
Confirmed so far:
+ eats from:
+ tech demos from:
Plus
The Contemporary will open 5-7p for a sneak peek of their new Foto Focus installation, with remarks from curator Michael Goodson.
Small business owner yourself? Don’t forget to check out the conference itself, as well as the closing party! Launch Dayton Startup Week presented by Fifth Third Bank brings together nearly 1K entrepreneurs, small business owners, startup founders, and business resource providers. Be inspired by the stories of failure and success, and build your own business through hands-on workshops and classes. All for FREE! Check out the full lineup here
31 S. Main St.
Dayton, OH 45402
[email protected]Get Directions
