Augusta’s tech incubator hosted its own version of “Shark Tank” on Wednesday night, allowing attendees to dole out capital in increments of $5.
The event, which took place on the downtown rooftop terrace of theClubhou.se overlooking the Savannah River, started with each of the seven startups delivering a 60-second pitch to the audience.
Following the speeches, business owners took their places at their booths, and attendees took their $5 funding bucks to the startups they thought most deserved them.
By the end of the night, $1,680 was raised for the small businesses, which have all been through the organization’s 12-week Make Startups entrepreneurial certificate program. The event organizers didn’t announce which startups raised the most money.
TheClubhou.se, which launched in December 2012, first started offering the certificate program in 2021.
There are six days left to apply for the summer cohort at the clubhou.se, which still has space, said Eric Parker, CEO of theClubhou.se.
“We need people like these entrepreneurs to sign up so they can solve problems we face every day,” he said.
Michael Newton Jr., director of impact at theClubhou.se, said he was “overwhelmed with joy” at the turnout at the event, which they plan to do again, he said. The difference between the startups that will go on to succeed versus those that won’t comes down to service, he said.
“The entrepreneurial mindset is first as a servant, which then leads to opportunities to lead an organization and a team and clients to a new level,” he said.
4E Youth Organization
Daycare is expensive for a reason: taking care of children is hard. But Roxanne Cobb has been taking care of kids from ages 10 to 17 in her community for free since 2019. They feed the homeless, go to the movies, eat pizza and bake, with all expenses coming out of her pocket, she said.
Cobb received a bus as a donation, allowing her to pick up the 15 kids each day on her own, she said.
Now, she wants to make it official by starting a company and finding a space for them to come to each day besides her house, she said.
“I care about my community and want to see the kids taken care of,” she said.
Centaur Cybersecurity
Frank Estrada and Starr Durham started Centaur Cybersecurity to help small and medium-sized businesses keep their data safe, said Estrada, who taught cyber operations at Fort Gordan. He connected with Durham after her husband was in his class.
The company launched in January and provides vulnerability assessment and cyber response plans. The duo plans to start with local companies and expand nationwide.
Kinnaber Marketing
Catherine Bichard and Chelsea Wasden were both working remotely from Augusta for the same Washington, D.C. marketing firm during the COVID-19 pandemic when they decided to team up on their own venture.
“The pandemic brought out our best in a lot of different ways,” said Wasden. “People were spending a lot of time with themselves and learned who they were and what they wanted.”
Small business owners don’t have enough hours in a day, so the duo thinks they can succeed by taking marketing off their plate, Bichard said.
The team provided much of the marketing material used at the crowdfunding event.
Celebration Mobile Events
Kevin Sprinkle wants to solve the issue of event organizer fatigue by offering a one-stop-shop for all event rental needs, including luxury mobile restrooms, wireless ATMs and an in-house band.
Before the pandemic, Sprinkle just had a wireless ATM. But since then, he’s collected a cotton candy machine, a popcorn machine and other big-ticket items to rent out to event organizers, he said.
“People shouldn’t have to go to eight different vendors for one event,” Sprinkle said.
Shields and Ladders
Theo Knight has served in law enforcement for 11 years and knows firsthand the stress they are under, he said. His company, Shields and Ladders, accepts donations to create a pot of money to provide emergency financial assistance for first responders who may have a sick relative or other pressing financial need.
While law enforcement officials who die often have a scholarship set up in their name, Knight wants to give them help while they’re still alive, he said.
“The help that is needed is never there,” Knight said. “People don’t realize the stress they’re under. They’re under enough stress as is. And they need help, too.”
Golden Lotus Properties
Sa’de Williams got her finances in order prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and now wants to help others do the same, she said.
Her company, Golden Lotus Properties, creates customized plans for customers to help them achieve financial freedom, said Williams, who has a day job at Augusta University.
“Don’t be ashamed of your finances,” Williams said. “We can help you.”
Ebony Tree Farm
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Frederick and Anna Griffin went vegan to help protect their health, Anna said.
“It forced our household to reevaluate how we were eating because if COVID hit us, we didn’t want to die,” she said.
Both founders grew up in single-parent households, with Anna growing up in Washington, D.C. and Frederick growing up in Atlanta.
“We needed to know where that next healthy meal was going to come from,” said Anna, the youngest of ten kids.
Their new company, Ebony Tree Farm, is a social enterprise that will work with local partners and volunteers to promote healthy eating and community development, she said.
“Ten cups of leafy greens a week is enough for positive change for people,” Frederick said.
