 Vol. 26| 09.27.25 |
| Announcing the CEA Cohort 3 Finalists |
 Cohort 3 finalists for the Community Enterprise Accelerator! T hese sixteen inspiring entrepreneurs were introduced on stage at the end of our Bronx Brilliance gathering at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, where we celebrated the Bronx’s incredible spirit of innovation and enterprise. Our Cohort 3 finalists are: Terese Brown — Terese Sydonna, LLC Shaunese Crawford — Boogie Down Cinema Inc. Ashonda Culcleasure — Fix It With Piggy Melissa Groneveldt — MonsheKelvin Joseph — Kool Kel Marketing Darlene Lebron — The Blogger House Curvy Closet Luz Mack — Luz Maria Mack Michelle Minaya — Baby Blossoms Corp Gregory Shotti Morgan Jr — LR2 Trevor Njoku — Kurve Lab Samuel Pacheco — Ai-Rides NYC PEV Sales and Service Center Amber Peters — On Track With Mizz P. DeVon Prioleau — PDG Anthony Ramirez II — From The Bronx Dior St. Hillaire — GreenFeen OrganiX Desmond West — pinStripe IT At Bronx Brilliance, we also marked the close of Cohort 2, whose fellows shared powerful reflections and ambitious strategic plans. Their journeys remind us what’s possible when entrepreneurs are supported with the right resources and community. They’ve set the stage beautifully for Cohort 3.  You can read more about the Cohort 3 finalists and how the selection process unfolds in our blog post. And stay tuned: we’ll share a full Bronx Brilliance recap in the next issue of The Catalyst. Thank you for being part of this journey as we continue building pathways for Bronx entrepreneurs. With gratitude, Tim Gamory Co-Founder, Community Enterprise Accelerator |
| Meet Our Lehman College Interns! |
.jpeg?width=1200&upscale=true&name=unnamed%20(2).jpeg) Melany Fabian – Sophomore, Business Administration major &Shahreen Sneha – Junior, Marketing major We’re excited to welcome two new interns from Lehman College’s Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) to the CEA team. Through SBIP, Lehman students receive immersive training in small business essentials—from marketing and social media to data research, SEO, finance, management, and communication skills—before beginning a seven-week internship with a Bronx business. The program combines classroom learning with real-world experience, preparing students to make an impact while earning academic credit and a stipend. We’re thrilled to have Melany and Shahreen bring their skills, fresh perspectives, and passion for entrepreneurship to CEA this semester! Learn more about Lehman College’s Small Business Internship Program |
 | Have you explored our CEA Community Map? This visualizer highlights the incredible connections within the CEA program and Bronx and NYC entrepreneurial ecosystem—and it will be continuously updated as we grow together. |
| RESOURCE ROUNDUP |
| Find A Business Mentor: Get Pro Bono Services for Your NYC Small Business NYPACE provides pro bono advice during their eight-week Flagship entrepreneur advising program. If you operate a business in NYC and need business advising and small business resources, NYPACE wants to hear from you. Free Financial Coaching for Your Business The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is offering financial coaching in partnership with Next Street to strengthen small business owners’ business finances. She’s Connected by AT&T | Deadline: September 30th Apply for the chance to win $50,000, a year of AT&T service with a new device, and the opportunity to share your small business story with your own AT&T content piece alongside #ShesConnected talent. Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant | Deadline: October 7thThis grant was created in honor of U.S. Navy Veteran Stephen L. Tadlock, brother of Founders First CEO Kim Folsom. It celebrates his service by supporting veteran-led small businesses with both funding and resources to grow stronger, sustainable companies. Powershift Entrepreneur Grant| Deadline: November 1stThe NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant aims to empower Black entrepreneurs and businesses through funding and resources and has, in previous years, contributed largely to the growth of Black businesses across the nation. Want to see more resources like these? Visit Syngine, our ecosystem hub where we’ve curated organizations, programs, and tools to help accelerate your business growth. |
| ECOSYSTEM EVENTS |
| Networking & Tax Strategies for Small Businesses September 30th, 6PM – 8PM CUNY on the Concourse | Lehman College Bronx Business Tech Incubator 31st Annual Tour De Bronx 2025 October 5th, 8AM – 5PM161st & Grand Concourse | Bronx Tourism Council Keeping Your Business SAFEOctober 7th, 12PM – 1:30 PMOnline | SCORE NYC Strengthen Your Business Finances with Free One-on-One Coaching October 8th, 1PM – 2PM Online | NYC Department of Small Business Services Fall Small Business – Be the Catalyst October 8th, 6PM – 8PM919 Third Avenue, NYC | The Acceleration Project ERA BIPOC Founders Pitch Event October 14th, 5PM- 6 PM Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator Rising Together: United for Entrepreneurial Success October 20th, 6PM – 10PM Elsie Rooftop| NYPACE |
| SPARKS : NEWS & NOTES |
| New nonprofit-owned restaurant Nourish opens in Mott Haven | Bronx Times The Oyate Group has opened Nourish, a nonprofit-owned café and restaurant in the Bronx’s former Chocobar Cortes location. All profits will fund the group’s programs, including the Brandon Hendricks scholarship and other community initiatives. Tiara Bennett Opens The First Black-Owned Bakery In Manhattan’s East Village In 25 Years And Has Plans For A Youth Program|AfroTech DailyChef Tiara Bennett has opened The Pastry Box in Manhattan’s East Village — the first Black-owned bakery in the neighborhood in 25 years. A veteran of high-end NYC kitchens, Bennett is also planning a youth program to mentor the next generation of bakers. Black Tech Green Money with Will Lucas | Black EffectOn the Black Tech Green Money podcast, Will Lucas speaks with John Imah, co-founder and CEO of SpreeAI, about how AI is transforming retail through virtual try-ons and personalized shopping experiences. Investing At Your Own Pace: A Beginners Guide To Alternative Investments That Fit Your Comfort Zone w/ Stephanie A. Dorsey | Black to BusinessBlack to Business features Stephanie A. Dorsey with a beginner’s guide to alternative investments. She breaks down what they are, how to start, and how smart investing can help close the wealth gap. The Keys to Wellbeing and Leadership | Center for Creative LeadershipA new piece from the Center for Creative Leadership explores six evidence-backed dimensions of wellbeing that leaders can cultivate to counter burnout and build healthier, more effective organizations. |
| Do you have resources or news to share with the CEA community?Submit to us at thecatalyst@ceabx.org. |
| The Community Enterprise Accelerator (CEA) is a transformative initiative, co-founded and funded by Level Up Ventures, a Hearst subsidiary, in partnership with Elevate Digital. Initially launched as a program, CEA is now evolving into a for-purpose 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting under-recognized entrepreneurs in The Bronx. Through grant capital, expert mentorship, and strategic resources, CEA empowers high-potential, community-focused businesses and strengthens the local economy.Elevate Digital LLC, 2501 Grand Concourse 3rd Floor, Bronx Business Tech Incubator, Bronx, NY 10468, USA, (646) 494-4244Unsubscribe Manage preferences |