Women Entrepreneurs Receive $20,000 in Grants at Velocity Demo Day

Ami Patel, Brittiany Jenkins, and Katye Freelon were awarded a total of $20,000 in grants during the Center for Creative Economy’s ninth annual Velocity Demo Day on October 17. The event, held at Winston Starts in Winston-Salem, celebrated innovative women entrepreneurs and the culmination of the 10-week Velocity accelerator program.

Ami Patel, founder of Gallery Box, received the $10,000 Velocity Award for her artist-led, interactive workshops designed to engage residents of living communities while supporting local artists. Two $5,000 Emerging Women Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by Wells Fargo, were given to Brittiany Jenkins and Katye Freelon. Jenkins, founder of Flawlesskin Company, provides oncology-inclusive spa services to soothe cancer patients’ skin during treatment. Freelon, creator of Coco Fro, offers vegan, freeze-dried ice cream targeting lactose-intolerant and plant-based consumers, with plans to expand through science museums and specialty retailers.

The Demo Day featured pitches from 10 creative entrepreneurs, showcasing their products to a panel of judges and the public. Jenkins also won the People’s Choice Award. The Velocity program trained participants in business fundamentals and market positioning, helping them refine their pitches. This year’s cohort included startups founded predominantly by women (90%) and people of color (80%), selected from 72 applicants across nine states and five countries.

Since its inception in 2016, CCE’s creative accelerator has launched 126 businesses, 77% of which are still operating, generating $24 million in revenue and raising $30 million in investments. Wells Fargo’s Alan Proctor emphasized the bank’s commitment to empowering diverse entrepreneurs and stimulating small business growth.

The awardees will receive ongoing mentoring and support from the Center for Creative Economy as they scale their businesses.