Getting the capital you need to start or grow your business is a top challenge most business owners face.
There are plenty of misconceptions about finding money for your business. In this meetup, we’ll break down the basics of funding and provide you insights on how to take your next steps.
Our panel will touch on topics like:
What types of funding are available… microloans, equity investment, and crowdfunding
What you need to focus on to get funding
Why are people not successful in getting the money they need
There will be plenty of Q&A time to get your specific questions answered. Submit your questions before the meetup by tweeting @makerhoods, DM’ing us on IG, or come prepared to ask the panelists your questions on funding.
Meet the Panel
Panelist June Smith-Tomori is the Director of Operations & Strategic Partnership at GNEC (Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation). A natural born entrepreneur and former Executive Director of St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation in Paterson, NJ, June has known adversity and failure but has a relentless story and uses those experiences to springboard her out-of-the-box thinking. In her spare time, she works in event production and has worked a variety of celebrities in the film and music industry.
Panelist Allison Strouse Williams is a seasoned leader with CEO and COO experience and a proven track record of driving expansive growth in startup technology companies. She currently is the Director of NVP Labs at Newark Venture Partners. She founded Yarly in 2012 and led the company to be acquired by its top competitor in mid-2015. Since then, Allison has been COO of a multi-national influencer brokerage software company as well as Head of Strategy for a leader in the live streaming video space. She now advises startups on a variety of areas from strategic planning to product/market fit to fundraising.
Panelist Jessica Kelly has spent the last 10 years working in Fashion PR, marketing, and sales helping hundreds of brands grow. Her company, THR3EFOLD helps brands navigating the corrupt, confusing supply chain with a platform to connect to a sustainable community, find ethical factories, and grow their business for people, planet, and profit. Jessica has successfully crowdfunded $22,500. This has landed her company in Women's Wear Daily, establishing THR3EFOLD as a leader in the ethical fashion movement. Jessica is also a Business and Crowdfunding Coach for iFundWomen.
Moderator Peter Hadar is the managing Owner & Creative Director of The Honors Program, a brand strategy multimedia company specializing in event programming and artist management. He is also the producer of the Guard d'Avant Progressive Music Festival.
Special thanks to our in-kind sponsors 3rd Space and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.