2022 Small Business Digital Ready Cohort

Meet our cohort members

  • Coquelicot Gallery & Cafe

    We are a locally owned and operated store striving to offer a unique and inspiring place to shop, dine, and host events. Our fine art, jewelry, and gift-able collections are ever-evolving so our guests can find something new with each visit. The handmade art and crafts come directly from the artists themselves so that the artists are fully compensated for their talent and efforts. In our café, we use fresh, quality ingredients that meet our standards (and we have very high standards.) We are passionate about offering something unique, healthy, and truly delicious.

  • The Value of Wrinkles

    My business currently offers practical content through social media handles, a podcast, and a digital course to help adult children/grandchildren love their older loved ones. In March 2020, I published my first book called The Value of Wrinkles: A Young Perspective on How Loving the Old Will Change Your Life, which shares my passion for my work and why I am so passionate about my business. The Value of Wrinkles strives to encourage people to value older adults more by sharing practical tips and stories from my experience growing up in a multigenerational household.

  • hédonisme

    Dessert is the embodiment of this, but often only as an afterthought. You’ll see that from the aesthetics to the flavour combinations—these are not your average desserts. That’s because everything I do is unconventional. hédonisme. is inspired by a culmination of my experiences and the people who have impacted me while I lived in Japan, Paris, and NYC during the last decade. All of which have taken my creations to an entirely different level.

    Their holiday bonbons will be available to preorder on Black Friday, November 25th, 12:00pm PST (NOON).

  • Kayli Weiss

    Kayli Weiss is a Japanese-American creative director and visual storyteller. Her work spans across various genres with a focus on non-fiction storytelling and musically-driven films. She was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado and currently based in both Los Angeles, CA and Brooklyn, NY. Kayli is the creative director and manager for Queens-born, Nigerian-American rapper and producer, AKINYEMI. Together they have collaborated on over 10 music videos and numerous brand partnerships and activations. In addition to her directorial and cinematography work, Kayli has worked in the camera department for a variety of commercials, TV shows, documentaries and music videos including projects for Netflix, Hulu, Food Network, PBS, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Telfar, Vice, and Adidas.

  • OpenWorldGaming

    The current phase of the business is hosting video game tournaments and providing eSport programming. The goal is to eventually open a gaming cafe where gaming services are provided in a coffeehouse setting. The video game tournaments and programming are avenues for me to build exposure and to secure funding to open the cafe.

    My business is unique because it is a concept that is not available in our community. Most gaming spots in Dallas are old school arcades or computer gaming venues that caters to an adult crowd. We would be the only family friendly spot that provides console gaming in a cafe setting. We will serve coffee, espresso drinks, smoothies, with a food menu that will be focused on me and my wife's background in Hong Kong and Memphis, TN which would be unlike any other cafe in the city.

  • Jeepney

    Jeepney Filipino Gastropub in New York City, with first-mover status, numerous awards, and critical press, the restaurant cemented its credibility as a pioneer and has inspired chefs and restaurants around the world offering unique experiences and featuring Philippine ingredients and flavors including The Original Kamayan Night, the award-winning burger and award-winning Tiki cocktails. Its offerings were unique, flavorful and had a reservation list 3-months long. Although Jeepney has since closed in New York, it continues on a smaller scale as a fast-casual concept in Miami, Florida.

  • Muirneen

    Muirneen is an equestrian clothing company that equips riders with beautiful and ethically-made apparel. Our clothing is made in the USA by sewists making a living wage. Our social mission is to make ethical apparel, showcase diversity in the equestrian sport, and celebrate all types of riders. I saw a need for a different type of riding clothing, so made-in-the-USA Muirneen was born.

    When shopping for equestrian apparel for my 8-year-old Asian-American daughter, I had difficulty finding brands that showcased the diversity in the equestrian sport and were ethically made in the United States. I have a strong desire to show the world that our sport is filled with the most incredible riders, and they do not look like the models in the magazines. This is the very reason Muirneen is diversity-driven and size-inclusive.

  • TWL Company

    I have 3 main categories for my small business: Selling vintage collection items, restoration services for vintage collection items, and consulting service for marketing. Before I started my business, I used to buy some used rc parts, broken rc junkies for very cheap price from eBay and craigslist for my own restoration projects. And then after finishing those projects, I realized people want to buy those from me with good prices. So I decided to open a small business selling my collections and offering restoration services. My services have offered unique and happy experiences to my customers, because the customers were extremely happy to see their favorite toys or memories again. Some of them were so thankful for reminding of their memories with their family members who passed away.

  • Green Cleaners

    Green Cleaners is a family-run dry cleaning business in IL. We are famous among neighborhood circles for doing an amazing job with wedding dresses and suits.

  • Blue Hawaii Lifestyle

    We are a local, family-owned business. Blue Hawaii Lifestyle opened its first location in the Ala Moana Shopping center in 2008. We outsource ingredients from a number of local companies to support our island’s economy. Our mission is to establish Blue Hawaii Lifestyle as globally recognized representatives of the healthy, active and sustainable lifestyle of Hawaii. We hope to promote this lifestyle we know and love with ALOHA!