Twendé Wraps Up the 2023 Cohort

Customer Connection Pitch Day 10/10/23

Twelve businesses pitched at the Twende Customer Connection Pitch Day to close out the 2023 Twende cohort. Participants found this event to be successful in bringing together a community of connectors including industry partners and entrepreneurs who’ve been there, done that. Each connector played an important role in supporting our Twende grads as they look to what’s next in their growth journey. 

After hearing the founders pitch, the group brainstormed on individuals to connect each founder with in real time for potential customer or investor introductions. Em Wilder, the EC’s Twende Program Manager, decided to pilot this structure after observing its success with the InFlight program. “This was an intimate event designed to help founders build relationships, gain valuable introductions to advisors and potential customers, and grow their networks. I am excited to implement different iterations of this experience during our 2024 Twende Accelerator.”

Joseph Cole, CEO of Culture Architecture and Design PLLC shared, “This event and the shift to focusing on B2B and B2G are by far the most impactful ways the EC has helped my business. I appreciate all of the support from Em, Twende, and the EC Team, and I look forward to participating in Twende in the future.”

“It was an incredibly inclusive event where different voices came together to discuss different opportunities for the entrepreneurs and in some cases, I feel, provided the entrepreneurs with some new ideas to consider on how they might make better connections in the community, or even ideas on how they might approach marketing their business. It highlighted the power of collaboration!” – Michael Slavik, Managing Principal-Nashville with Twende sponsor, CLA.

The following Twende Grads presented:

Lamar Allen, LaMarvelous Balloons

Founded in 2014, LaMarvelous Balloons specializes in making each event unique by transforming and dramatizing spaces and creating entertaining and emotional experiences for clients.

Erica Battle, Life Changes in Progress

Life Changes in Progress works with school districts and organizations servicing students in K-12 to help improve their literacy, SEL (social, emotional, learning), and overall academic outcomes.

Marcus Blair, Omega Digital Solutions

Omega Digital Solutions is a business process improvement firm that automates accounting, sales, operations, and reporting and more, also offering custom built software solutions.

Joseph Cole, Culture Architecture and Design

Culture Architecture and Design, PLLC stands as a comprehensive architecture and interior design firm. Their portfolio spans a spectrum, from residential renovations to intricate, ground-up commercial edifices. 

Briana Cooper, AutumnSkye Productions 

AutumnSkye Productions is a Tennessee-based full branding agency dedicated to helping businesses grow their presence online through web design, graphic design, social media marketing, business consulting, business photography, and commercial printing.

Elecxus Ellis, KofeeBroz LLC

Kofee Broz LLC is a local drink shop in the heart of historic Springfield that offers a variety of specialty coffees, milkshakes, smoothies, including different food and pastry options daily.

Dynasti Hunt, Tayden Impact Partners

Tayden Impact Partners helps take organizations from disjointed to diverse, equitable, and inclusive, focusing on implementing DEI sustainably in operations. 

Thomas Kelly, Creative Soulz Printing

Creative Soulz Printing provides custom, affordable, quality design and printing services including business cards, banners, labels, flyers, large format graphics, and more.

Jay Morgan, Comstasis

Comstasis is a managed IT service provider implementing the full range of technology services to multiple verticals, including: Education, Healthcare, and Finance.

Sarah Patton, Social Bliss Events

Social Bliss Events is a full-service event planning company with a tested and proven four-phase planning process. They serve clients in Nashville, TN and destinations across the globe.

Jess Thompson, getFIT615

getFit615 offers an inclusive space with a community dedicated to making human wellness accessible, available, and affordable and provide kettlebell forward classes with workshops and training.

Kameela Williams-Jackson, Vita Infusion and Wellness

Vita Infusion and Wellness is a health and wellness clinic providing services such as hormone replacement, intravenous vitamins, minor sick visits, peptides, prioritizing nutrition education, and overall wellness. 

A huge thank you to all of our connectors that made this event successful:

Shani Dowell (CEO, Possip)

Michael Slavik (Managing Principal-Nashville, Health Care and Life Sciences, CLA)

LaTanya Channel (Former Director of Economic Growth and Small Business Development, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County)

Haley “Zap” Zapolski (Capital Connector, Nashville Entrepreneur Center)

Rod McDaniel (CEO, S3 Recycling Solutions)

Brittany Cole (CEO, Career Thrivers)

Shana Berkeley (ED, Corner to Corner)

Chris Sloan (Chair, Emerging Companies Team, Baker Donelson)

Bill Lee McCleskey (Founder, Mitech Partners, LLC)

Anthony Ragland (SVP of Connections, Nashville Entrepreneur Center)

Yesenia Sevilla (Director, Strategic Engagement & Ecosystem Development, The Wond’ry)

Sam Davidson (CEO, Nashville Entrepreneur Center)