We Won $15,000! Here's How!

It’s been a while and that's because we took some much-needed time off in the beginning ofJune. My family and I went to Mexico and after 15 months of a pandemic, running this business, and virtually teaching my 6 year old it was due time for a vacation. It was actually my son's first international trip which was kind of a big deal for me. Growing up my mom always provided opportunities where I was able to leave the country and see the world, to better understand my place and purpose in it. I've always wanted to be able to do that for my son, but when I first started Restore More financially it wasn't an option. I share that to say how grateful I am that now that we are thriving the options seem endless. If you're reading this and you have a dream work on it, don't give up, keep going. I promise it gets better.

 The reason I'm taking a moment to check in today is to share about our most recent win with Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative in partnership with the Atlanta Hawks For the Tech Tip Off Pitch Competition. The way the program was set up, participants had to attend a minimum number of trainings on entrepreneurship to qualify for the pitch. I signed up for my trainings excitedly, eager to learn new stuff and meet new like minded people. Over the next couple of weeks in May I attended every session I could.  Finally, June rolled around and we had to submit a two and a half minute video pitching our business. We had to share the problem, solution, our traction, why we’re best suited to do the work, and how we’d use the money. I nervously hit record and did it in one take. Truth be told I spent about 30 minutes editing it down, because it was a little over two ½ minutes, but I was proud of what I came up with and sent it off with good intentions. 

 Now keep in mind, my family and I are planning to go to Mexico and so off we go to embark on a week of relaxation and rest, specifically not checking emails. Well I want to let you know how well I did! I did not check a single email for the first 3 days, but then something was kind of nagging me to check it, call it anxiety, call it what you will but I checked it. And in hindsight I'm really glad that I did, because I had a congratulations email in there from WEI letting me know that I made it to the next round and that I would have to do a live pitch via Zoom.  I was feeling pretty confident until I realized the day I was assigned was the very next day. I didn't have a pitch deck together, but knew I could pull from some of the ones I've recently done, and I got to work spending about an hour putting it together and running it over and over again trying to get it right. I was also nervous about the internet stability so I went ahead and purchased the quality internet package, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best. 

 The day came, I pitched, and the judges asked a couple of follow-up questions but I was able to answer clearly and concisely. Unfortunately, I got cut off right before my ask and so by the end of the call I wasn't feeling super sure about my next steps, but I was told I would hear back within the week. I got back from Mexico well-rested and super tanned, but still in a limbo about my results, but a few days later I got an email letting me know that I had made it to the finalist round which consisted of 20 other woman-led businesses in Atlanta.  I was excited, but also nervous because this pitch for the final round would be done in person and the 2 ½ minute time limit still remained. I got to work cleaning up my pitch using a lot of the language and slides that I had been building for the Center for Civic Innovation pitch that happened to be on the same day.  If you've ever pitched once you know how hard it is to lay your life's work up on the line, tell your personal story, and then be judged for it. Now imagine doing that twice. 

 The day came and I arrived at the Flatiron building in Downtown Atlanta super early and felt relatively calm. I had meditated, I had prayed, I listened to a motivational speaker that morning, and I even had my coffee, all was well. That was until I broke the zipper on my jumpsuit which had me feeling less than stellar appearance-wise, but I decided not to let it stop me and rather to laugh at the moment. I started mingling with other ladies that I have met throughout the last couple of years on the entrepreneur scene in Atlanta, and it was really nice to catch up with familiar and warm faces. We talked about our nerves, outfit glitches, and our businesses. My time came and I was escorted upstairs in an elevator with a member of the WEI team, Ashley. She sat me in a beautiful waiting room overlooking Atlanta and GSU, and I just began envisioning myself doing really well on my pitch, while feeling a bunch of gratitude to be in this room on this day. 

A few minutes later I was up, Ashley escorted me through a door and I walked into a room to present Restore More to three judges. I also met Monica Delores Hooks, the Executive Director of WEI. I told them about Restore More, the problem that students are facing, how that impacts parents and teachers and how we work to solve it through our workshops. I shared with them how much we've grown in the last 3 years, and they were floored that not only are we making a huge impact, but that we are cash flow positive, which basically means we got money in the bank. I told them the funds weren't for me specifically, but rather to enhance our facilitator program. We currently have about 20 facilitators that we contract with and we want to grow out this department to be able to give them branded swag, take them on in person sessions to train, and provide community and development sessions for them as well.  By the end of the pitch I was feeling pretty confident, and I headed back downstairs to let Kim know how it went. 

She was watching in a WEI decorated room downstairs where participants and their one guest waited. She was able to see it via a screen but the acoustics weren't great, and there's nothing like that personal narrative. I told her everything, eager to gush about the judges' excitement with our work. We anxiously watched a few others until the entire WEI team came downstairs to inform us of who the winners were. There were two categories: those who were members of the WEI cohort, and those from the Greater Atlanta Community. I was a part of the second group. They announced the WEI winners first and I was super excited when my friend Akissi Stokes, the founder of Wundergrubs won first place gaining $15,000 to continue her work. She is a CCI alum and seeing her win was like a win for the home team. Then they began the final results for the Greater Atlanta Community, and as I awaited those results I just remember feeling excited to hear what was next. They announced third place and it was Elissa Russell of READI Consulting winning $5,000. I screamed when I heard her name, because I couldn't have been happier for her. We both got our Masters at Georgia State University and had a class together, so when I saw her that morning we reconnected and we're rooting for one another. 

Then Monica, the founder of WEI, quieted the crowd and announced the second winner earning a prize of $10,000, Tia Robinson of Vertical Activewear. I was equally excited for Tia as we had been chopping it up all morning long in the lobby about our experiences in The Village Market Elevate Cohort. Seeing my folks win was huge, and my cheers showed it. Finally, it was time for them to announce the first place winner. Monica hushed the room once more and then announced the winner of the first place prize for $15,000 was Claudine Miles of Restore More. I was so excited, honored, and shocked all at once. When I started this business I didn’t know if others would believe my vision because it was BIG, but getting signs like this remind me I can make folks see it. I am honored to share space and time with each and everyone of you reading, and I write to share that our dreams are possible, our desires can come true, and when you need a reminder let Restore More be an inspiration for us both to keep going.