This year’s Start:ME graduation wasn’t just a ceremony; it was a celebration of potential turned into purpose. On May 1st, we gathered with entrepreneurs from all four cohorts, along with mentors, alumni, and supporters, to cheer on the incredible graduates. The event marked the culmination of a 14-week journey where participants worked from the inside out to turn bold dreams into viable businesses.
Start:ME, a program of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and offered in partnership with FCS and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, equips neighborhood-based small businesses with the tools, connections, and capital needed to thrive.
This year, Start:ME welcomed its largest group of entrepreneurs yet. On the Southside alone, more than 80 aspiring business owners applied for a coveted spot in the program. From that talented pool, 24 ventures were selected for the 2025 Southside cohort. Each brought bold ideas, steady determination, and a clear commitment to building something meaningful. Week after week, they showed up with resilience, creativity, and vision.
“My favorite moment during Start:ME was going through customer discovery, the financial pitch sessions, and ultimately presenting at the final pitch night. Each step helped me connect the dots, refine my business model, and build the confidence to clearly tell my story. It was powerful to see everything come together, and incredibly rewarding to share my vision with a wider audience.” —Calvin Pegus, H.E.R.O.S.
The journey wasn’t always easy, but the commitment paid off. Entrepreneurs finished the program with business plans, strategies, support networks, and the confidence to take the next step.
“I’m most proud of walking away from Start:ME with a solid business plan, a clear strategy for how to operate my business, and a comprehensive pitch I can confidently use to communicate my vision and attract support.” —Adetola Akinnubi, Devn.
As always, graduation night was a chance to celebrate everyone’s progress and recognize a few standout entrepreneurs with seed funding to help launch or grow their businesses. In total, Southside entrepreneurs received over $15,000 in Start:ME awards and grants.
Among the Southside winners were tutoring programs, wellness products, creative services, and community initiatives — all run by entrepreneurs who care deeply about their neighbors.
“My favorite part was building a close-knit bond with our team, gaining valuable advice from mentors, and watching other entrepreneurs grow alongside me. It created a powerful sense of community and motivation that made the whole journey even more meaningful.” RaKya Burkes & Deon Leigh, HUMBLE Tutoring
Here are the winners we celebrated this year from the Southside:
Community Impact Award
- $500 – Elena of Bless the Body
Peer-of-the-Year Award
- $500 – Tola of Devn.
Resilience Award
- $500 – Emory of HomeStar Karaoke
Start Grants: These early-stage grants are awarded to entrepreneurs launching new businesses with standout ideas and potential.
- $1,000 – Everest of Salubrious Designs
- $2,000 – Clarke of Lady Bites
- $3,000 – Calvin of H.E.R.O.E.S.
Grow Grants: These larger grants are designed to help entrepreneurs with growing businesses scale their impact.
- $4,000 – Danielle & Red of WeFlection
- $5,000 – RaKya & Deon of HUMBLE Tutoring
Every year, we are blown away by what these entrepreneurs bring to the table. Their businesses aren’t just ideas, they’re community-rooted solutions that create access, opportunity, and belonging for Atlanta’s Southside.
“I think the most useful thing I’m taking away is a network of Start:ME family that I will be able to grow with and lean on moving forward.” —Emory Goocher, HomeStar Karaoke
At FCS, we’re proud to be part of that family.
If you want to support a more equitable, diverse, and abundant local economy on Atlanta’s Southside, check out the Start:ME Shopping Guide and support one of these amazing businesses. When you shop local, you invest in people, and that’s a return that always pays off.
