gBETA Urban League Showcase
media release: Five diverse-led Madison companies have been selected to participate in a local business accelerator program. Bee Made It; House of Flavas; SeeMyEars; N.Joy Studios; and Wisconsin Martial Arts & Fitness Center are currently taking part in the gBETA Urban League program through Urban League of Greater Madison and national venture capital firm gener8tor.
gBETA Urban League is a free seven-week accelerator program designed to set a path for Black entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs of color to build successful small businesses in Madison, with a particular focus on entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming a part of the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub. Founders receive intensive concierge coaching and access to the combined network of Urban League and gener8tor mentors, customers, corporate partners and financial professionals.
Nearly 60 entrepreneurs applied for the program. The five selected companies were chosen based on their growth potential and brick-and-mortar readiness. See below for more details on each company.
“It has been a joy getting to know these fantastic entrepreneurs and jumping in with them to help grow their businesses,” said Molly Dill, Managing Director at gener8tor, who is leading this cohort of gBETA Urban League. “gBETA Urban League has a tangible impact on the creation and success of Black businesses in Madison.”
The program is made possible by a partnership with Urban League of Greater Madison.
“Urban League of Greater Madison is proud to continue offering this program to Madison entrepreneurs as we continue to expand the Black Business Hub and its impact in Greater Madison,” said Dr. Ruben Anthony, Jr., President & CEO of Urban League of Greater Madison.
At the end of the gBETA program, the entrepreneurs will pitch their companies to community partners and the public at a Showcase event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the Black Business Hub, 2352 S. Park St. in Madison. Please RSVP here to attend.
Small businesses interested in learning more about gBETA’s programming and resources or applying to a future program can visit the gBETA Urban League website, or reach out to Molly Dill at molly@gener8tor.com. Those interested in mentoring these companies or getting involved in other ways are also encouraged to connect.
BETA Urban League Fall 2024 Cohort
Bee Made It prepares hand-crafted scratch homemade desserts and Southern style baked goods. Customers from Madison, Janesville, Sun Prairie and the surrounding areas appreciate the traditional cooking style Chef Bee brings to the desserts, helping them reconnect with the old ways of cooking that are going extinct. Bee Made It brought in about $600 in revenue selling at three markets in its first month, November 2024.
Owner: Brandon Dimmer bldcreationz@gmail.com | (608) 630-0201
House of Flavas’ well-known restaurant and catering service recreates the feeling of grandma’s authentic cooking with a family atmosphere. House of Flavas brings a different experience than most restaurants with its creative and flavorful Southern and Chicago-style dishes. Clients include schools, organizations and individuals in the Madison region. House of Flavas brings in about $12,000 per month in catering orders.
Owner: Jodie Jefferson houseofsoul19@gmail.com | (608) 581-7825
SeeMyEars’ Madison hearing center diagnoses hearing impairments, sells hearing aids and assistive devices, and trains professionals to identify behaviors that indicate hearing impairments. SeeMyEars empowers those with hearing impairments to seek help and proudly wear devices that will improve their quality of life, and equips professionals to connect those individuals to the center. SeeMyEars is dedicated to making hearing health a positive and confident choice for young people.
CEO/Executive Director: Gregory Taylor Sr. Seemyears2024@gmail.com | (347) 486-0497
N.Joy Studios provides a comprehensive suite of services including photography, event planning, shows, networking and workshops. The studio acts as a dynamic hub, not only offering traditional creative services but also connecting businesses with creatives, enabling them to thrive together. Since launching in January 2022, N.Joy Studios has completed over 70 photoshoots, 4 events and 2 workshops.
Owner: Lanicia Joyner n.joystudiosllc@gmail.com | (346) 657-9359
Wisconsin Martial Arts & Fitness Center, established in 2016, provides empowerment, self-esteem and awareness to the Madison community by teaching martial arts, jiu jitsu and fitness. WI-MAFC offers its programming at two of its own studios, at one charter and five elementary schools, and at two universities. It has also developed its own adaptive programming for people with disabilities. WI-MAFC’s consistent revenue growth has matched and even exceeded the U.S. martial arts school average of $114,000 per year.
Owner/Founder: Charles Dean dean@wiscmartialarts.com | (608) 831-5425