Second EforAll South Coast Accelerator cohort graduates, $15K awarded

BOWLED OVER: Maddi Jezierski, of New Bedford, center, will use her EforAll funding to open a noodle bar offering a unique and diverse selection of noodle bowls incorporating elements from other cultural foods. / COURTESY EFORALL
BOWLED OVER: Maddi Jezierski, of New Bedford, center, will use her EforAll funding to open a noodle bar offering a unique and diverse selection of noodle bowls incorporating elements from other cultural foods. / COURTESY EFORALL

FALL RIVER – Nine entrepreneurs celebrated the end of a 12-week Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) accelerator program recently at the Cultural Center, with four sharing a $15,000 award.

EforAll expanded operations to the South Coast last fall, after operating in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Approximately 100 people attended the Sept. 7 event, according to Shelley Cardoos, executive director of EforAll.

In addition to the $15,000, the cohort will have more opportunities throughout the year to be awarded cash prizes, as EforAll provides additional support for the next nine months, she explained.

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Scott Dubois, co-owner of Pidalia, a digital agency in Boston, delivered the keynote speech, telling his story of challenges and successes, and reminding entrepreneurs that “partnerships are like marriages” and “there’s more time in the day if you just watch less ‘Game of Thrones.’”

Accelerator participant Latonia Francois, founder of Let’s Write Life, a journal-publishing company focused on mental health, also spoke on behalf of her accelerator colleagues. She said EforAll helped give her a better understanding of her customers, and she also praised the support she received from its mentors and the other entrepreneurs.

The winners of monetary awards were:

  • The Noodle Bowl: $5,500. Maddi Jezierski, of New Bedford, plans to open a noodle bar offering a unique and diverse selection of noodle bowls incorporating elements from other cultural foods.
  • Blooming Artisan: $4,500, Jennifer Guerin, of Rhode Island, offers a do-it-yourself floral and botanical craft experience, with seasonally inspired arrangements for private parties, or special events at restaurants and bars.
  • VICTORNEE: $3,000. Silvia Correia-Thomas of Stoughton, Mass., created specialized pants for children ages 2 to 10, with built-in padding and durability to withstand the wear and tear of even the most active children.
  • Let’s Write Life: $2,000. Latonia Francois, of Brockton, Mass., designs, develops and sells journals based on her own life story.

The other participants were Manny DeBrito and Frank Barros of A’s Before J’s in New Bedford, an incentive-based, fundraising program that aims to reward area youth for academic achievement; Fitzcarmel Lamarre of Creative Oasis in New Bedford, a painting program; Nique Pichette of Holistic 2 Healing Inc. in Fall River, which empowers those struggling with a diagnosis and educates patients and families through the process; Stephanie Borden of One and Done in Swansea, which provides an improved quality of life to busy professionals by handing off tasks and projects to its team of workers; and Judith Underwood of the Blue Institute at Cape Cod, a nonprofit international education and research institute creating sustainable solutions for clean water and climate change issues in Massachusetts, and the world.
EforAll also is holding two business pitch contests this fall. Prizes for the winners, who will be chosen by a panel of judges, are $1,000 for the grand prize, $750 for second place, $500 for third place and $500 for the fan favorite (the audience will vote via text messaging).
The first contest will take place Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at Groundwork! at 1213 Purchase St. in New Bedford. The application deadline has already closed for this contest, which coincides with EforAll’s one-year anniversary.
The second pitch contest will take place on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at the VFW, 486 Bedford St., Fall River. This contest has a unique theme – “Makers and Shakers” for those who are shaking up technologies or coming up with newly created product or product idea launches. Applications are due Oct. 7.
The events will offer networking opportunities for those who attend, both before and after the contests, according to Cardoos.
Information and applications can be found online at www.eforall.org or contact Cardoos at 508-858-8522 or mailto:shelley@eforall.org.

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