Get to know the 10 businesses selected for the first HoneyBook Breakthrough Grant. From a variety of industries and backgrounds, learn what makes each business unique as well as the common challenges they face as marketing and creative consultants.
After launching the first round of the HoneyBook Breakthrough Grant in June, we received thousands of applications from independent businesses in various creative and marketing fields.
Through careful consideration, we narrowed down the applicant pool and selected 10 finalists who received a $25,000 grant package that includes a 3-year HoneyBook Premium membership, support from a Pro, and cash to invest in their business. Now it’s time to meet the 10 winners and learn about their business stories, as well as how they plan to use the grant to accelerate their growth.
If you could use a boost to take your business to the next level, stay tuned for your chance to apply to the Breakthrough Grant round two later this year in November 2024.
Get to know the Fall 2024 winners:
- IMMIGRANTS
- Get Smart Creative Solutions
- HOPEWORKSDESIGN
- Too Geek’d Marketing
- Sensi Studios
- Kirstin Brenders & Co
- Denae Creative
- Designed to Conquer
- JL Premier Consulting
- RareForm
IMMIGRANTS
Who are they?
IMMIGRANTS is a branding agency for value-based, mission-driven businesses. Owner Andrew Fuentes is dedicated to working with small to medium-sized, minority-owned businesses and non-profits that are driving their missions forward in the areas of sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As a company built by immigrants, the team comes from lived experiences that enable them to connect with the businesses they’re serving and their audiences.
How they’re growing their business
Currently, IMMIGRANTS is focused on new client acquisition and increasing visibility in their target market. Though they’ve had success in delivering outstanding results to their clients, one of their challenges has been building a consistent pipeline.
With the Breakthrough Grant, IMMIGRANTS will be able to focus on growing their social media marketing and advertising efforts in order to better reach their audiences and unlock new opportunities.
Get Smart Creative Solutions
Who are they?
Get Smart Creative Solutions is a branding and marketing agency fully owned and operated by Alexis Nashelle. She works with local small businesses in her area as well as non-profits to enhance and grow their brand awareness.
Through her work, she’s been able to help organizations and non-profits grow their mission to make a difference in people’s lives. Alexis focuses on great marketing that not only sells products and services but also helps lift people up and create opportunities.
How they’re growing their business
Alexis currently faces a common challenge for business owners—streamlining project management and client workflows. As a one-person business, it’s difficult to balance client work as well as the operational side of the business.
With the Breakthrough Grant, Get Smart Creative Solutions will be able to invest in new equipment and advertising as well as support for SEO, business operations, social media, and professional development. Not to mention use HoneyBook to streamline her business operations.
HOPEWORKSDESIGN
Who are they?
HOPEWORKSDESIGN is a marketing consultancy specializing in strategic marketing, website services, and online ad campaigns for mission-driven Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms and women-led businesses.
Owner and founder Hope Livonne Trory comes to her clients with a background in architecture and marketing, positioning her to successfully bridge the gap between technical architectural knowledge and effective marketing strategies. The consultancy provides tailored solutions to their clients by coming with a solid understanding of their specific needs.
How they’re growing their business
By winning the Breakthrough Grant, Hope is looking forward to improving the ways she reaches her audience and streamlines business operations while reducing strain on her cash flow. She’s also looking to upgrade the technology and software she uses on a day-to-day basis.
In particular, Hope focuses on empowering and educating her clients to have sustained success beyond her initial deliverables. With the ability to invest in other areas of her business, she’ll be able to spend more time focused on building that relationship with her clients.
Too Geek’d Marketing
Who are they?
Too Geek’d Marketing is a marketing agency that supports introverted women in the wellness industry with video marketing services. Owner and founder Crystal Pope is currently at a pivotal point in her business where she’s recently transitioned from a solopreneur to grow her business as an agency.
As a completely self-taught marketing professional, Crystal has the opportunity to guide others on aspects of marketing and grow her agency to be able to serve more clients. As she’s stepping into more of a leadership role, she’s excited to use her skills to help more self-care brands and wellness brands thrive.
How they’re growing their business
With the recent transition from a solopreneur to an agency owner, Crystal is planning on fueling her business’s internal and external expansion.
Internally she’ll focus on building out her team to offer more services and increase their capacity to serve more clients. She’s also looking forward to investing in mentorship and business development. For external expansion, Crystal is also investing in a business rebrand and additional advertising services to reach more of her potential clients.
Sensi Studios
Who are they?
Sensi Studios is an interdisciplinary creative agency led by Grace Wei. As a digital storyteller, she specializes in helping social impact and community-driven brands reach their audiences and build connection.
Leveraging her background as a storyteller for enterprise-level businesses, Grace brings experience with copywriting, design, campaigns, and growth strategy. To support mission-driven organizations, clients receive well-rounded support at an accessible price point so they can drive positive change.
How they’re growing their business
Currently, Grace manages all lead generation, administration, and creative work herself. Like many other businesses, she’s reached a crucial point where it’s important to outsource in order to scale.
By winning the Breakthrough Grant, she’ll focus on hiring a lead generation specialist who can handle business development and proposals, freeing up Grace’s time to focus more on client strategy and design as well as training additional creative support to expand Sensi’s project capacity.
Kirstin Brenders & Co
Who are they?
Kirstin Brenders is an online business manager who specializes in coaching startups and supporting creative entrepreneurs. Her services help businesses move past operational challenges, such as hiring, outsourcing, and project planning.
As a former 9-5 employee, she initially started her business to become a more present mother. Now, 2.5 years into business management, she’s also grown her services to provide mentorship and support to other women interested in launching their own independent and freelancing careers.
How they’re growing their business
To reach the next level in her business, Kirstin will be using her Breakthrough Grant winnings to further expand her services. In particular, she’s planning to develop a structured mentorship program for women transitioning from 9-5 jobs.
As her business grows, she’s also looking to better maintain work-life balance with the help of better systems and automations through HoneyBook. Lastly, Kirstin plans to expand her reach into her target market by updating her website and building a digital course.
Denae Creative
Who are they?
Denae Creative is a design agency offering branding, strategy, print, and web design services. Owner and founder Rheagen King is dedicated to helping path-forging women of color build successful brand and print experiences.
Through mostly word-of-mouth and relationship building, the agency has been able to serve more than 35 clients from Seattle to South Africa. By focusing on socially conscious design, Rheagen and her team are able to unveil diverse stories throughout the world.
How they’re growing their business
While the agency previously gained clients through word-of-mouth and networking, the agency hit a milestone this past year after they focused on launching their website and social media presence.
Now, Rheagen is looking to transform her service-based business model into a more scalable and profitable operation. With the winnings from the Breakthrough Grant, she’ll have more time to focus on growing her business rather than just spending all of ther time on client work. She’s planning to create digital offers like templates and mini trainings that can diversify her income. She’ll also be focused on building out more of the agency’s marketing efforts on Pinterest, Instagram, and email.
Designed to Conquer
Who are they?
Designed to Conquer is a full-service creative studio specializing in branding and web design. The agency not only creates beautiful designs but prioritizes business growth and personalization with every client.
Owner Dre is also committed to developing design inspiration in his community. The agency also offers programs for youth, such as the Wearable Art Program, which encourages them to strengthen their design and fashion skills.
How they’re growing their business
With only a couple of years in business, Dre has had to rely heavily on bootstrapping to enable the agency’s initial growth. By winning the Breakthrough Grant, Dre plans to secure new software subscriptions and equipment that the agency needs to expand their services.
Dre also plans on increasing the agency’s online visibility with Facebook and Google ads and investing in more business education, such as classes, courses, and training.
JL Premier Consulting
Who are they?
JL Premier Consulting is owned and operated by Jennifer Lee. As an affiliate marketing consultant, she specializes in DTC and B2B growth for brands in highly competitive markets.
Through services like affiliate marketing audits, partner recruitment, program management, and bespoke strategies that drive genuine growth, Jennifer has created a high-volume pipeline of clients.
How they’re growing their business
Jennifer became her own boss in order to prioritize her family, and stepped away from a secure path to focus on her abilities and the meaningful impact she could make as a consultant. Despite the uncertainty, the transition to an independent gave her control in life and work.
Currently, Jennifer has reached a milestone in her business where she’s at capacity and having to turn away potential clients due to constraints. By winning the Breakthrough Grant, she’s looking forward to setting up a more scalable foundation that includes hiring support and investing in tools that enhance her offerings. Overall, the winnings will allow her to rebrand as an agency, hire contractors, and achieve a better work-life balance.
RareForm
Who are they?
RareForm is an Uncommon Creative Studio that specializes in strategic creative and experiential marketing. The small team adapts to each client’s needs, allowing them to provide flexible and personalized solutions.
The agency’s projects make a big difference with their clients, making them more recognized in their industries.
How they’re growing their business
Founder Elias Armao and Co-founder CJ Welch are dedicated to growing their team of six to over 15 individuals who make their living at RareForm. The pair want RareForm to be a pathway toward dignified creative careers for their members, helping them build their dreams within a supportive community.
By winning the Breakthrough Grant, they plan on giving back to their community through scholarships and funding for portfolio projects. They’ll also focus on brand building for the agency with targeted marketing efforts like events and merchandise.
How were winners selected for the Fall 2024 HoneyBook Breakthrough Grant?
With thousands of applicants, our team evaluated each business based on their expertise, story, and impact. The 10 winners above were selected based on their business’s viable path for long-term success, the motivation behind their business, and their plans for using the grant to achieve their goals.
How to apply for the next Breakthrough Grant
Stay tuned for the next round of the Breakthrough Grant launching in November this year! The second round will also offer a $25,000 package to early-stage creative and marketing businesses that are ready to reach new heights.
In the meantime, make sure you’re utilizing the other resources HoneyBook offers to help independent businesses learn and grow:
- Listen to the Independent Business podcast for education from top voices in the small business world.
- Explore the HoneyBook blog to learn business best practices about every part of your business operations.
- Access our free tools and templates to create your business invoices, contracts, mission statement, and more.
- Work with a HoneyBook Pro to get set up for success on HoneyBook and beyond.
- Learn more about how the HoneyBook suite of business tools can you help you ditch the busywork and do more of your best work.
- Hear how HoneyBook members, business owners just like you, have improved their processes and elevated their client experience on the platform.
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