Aspiring Community Entrepreneurs

08/11/2026

Graduation is almost here! 🎓✨ We’re getting ready to celebrate the hard work, growth and determination of ACE Cohort 3 as they reach this exciting milestone.

📅 August 29, 2026

Invitations are coming soon, so keep an eye on your inbox! We can’t wait to celebrate our newest ACE graduates and everything they’ve accomplished.

07/30/2026

Across Cobb County, entrepreneurship is creating new opportunities for individuals, families and communities. Through the ACE Program, we're equipping aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the training, mentorship, business coaching and resources they need to build sustainable businesses and create lasting economic impact.

ACE is proud to be part of the University of Notre Dame's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) network, joining 59 partner sites across 8 countries that share a common purpose: expanding economic opportunity through entrepreneurship.

When we invest in entrepreneurs, we're investing in stronger businesses, stronger families and a stronger local economy.

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ACE is powered by Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University + MUST Ministries

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University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business

59 cities. 8 countries. One common purpose.

The Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) is built on a simple but powerful belief: entrepreneurship can create lasting pathways out of poverty.

Through a proven model, universities partner with local communities to equip low-income entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, consulting, and resources they need to launch and grow sustainable businesses. While every program is tailored to the unique needs of its community, each is united by the same mission of creating long-term economic opportunity.

Today, UPBI has grown to 59 partner sites across the United States and around the world, demonstrating how collaboration between universities and communities can create meaningful, lasting impact.

Together, we are helping entrepreneurs build businesses, transform lives, and strengthen communities.

Featured partners:
Kern Inclusive Entrepreneurship Hub
Silulo Foundation
Northwest Indiana Business Community
Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanísticas-ESPOL
Impact Hub Houston
Saint Bakhita's Vocational Training Center
Carthage College
MTCC Small Business Center
BizStarts

07/28/2026

Every successful business begins with someone who sees an opportunity - and has the courage to pursue it.

For Jasmin Foster | , that opportunity started with something simple: a love for journals and planners. But she noticed something missing. She rarely saw products that reflected women who looked like her.

Instead of waiting for the industry to change, she created the brand she wished already existed.

That vision became Be Rooted | Be Rooted Co, a stationery and lifestyle brand dedicated to celebrating Black and Brown women through thoughtful, inspiring products. Just one year after launching, Be Rooted became the first Black-owned stationery brand carried nationwide at Target - proof that purpose-driven businesses can create meaningful impact.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship isn't always about inventing something new. Sometimes it's about seeing what's missing, believing your perspective matters, and building the solution yourself.

At ACE, we're proud to celebrate amazing like Jasmin who are creating opportunity, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation of founders to dream bigger.

07/15/2026

For ACE Fellow Myeichia Jackson, she was already an entrepreneur before entering the ACE program but needed help taking her business to the next level. Her venture, Bird’s Eye Eco Cleaning Services, was built largely on trial and error. When she learned about the ACE program, she saw an opportunity to develop a plan that would allow her to grow intentionally.

“My biggest challenge was scaling the business and knowing about the opportunities, where they are, and how to get them,” Jackson said. “A lot of us jump out there and don’t know what to expect. When I saw their email that said, ‘we give you the 80 steps of successful entrepreneurship,’ I was like, ‘yes, I need that!’”

The ACE program bootcamp and consulting phases introduced Jackson to financial management, strategy development, and other elements of entrepreneurial thinking. It also helped her address real challenges, such as making improvements to her financial management system.

The impact was immediate. With new tools and confidence, Jackson expanded beyond residential cleaning into commercial contracts, dramatically increased her revenue by 600 percent.

Still a student in the program, Jackson encourages anyone thinking about starting a business to enroll.

“Being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you know everything,” she said. “If you’re willing to learn, ACE is definitely the program for you. To me, it stands for Accountability, Connectivity, and Encouragement, because that’s what I get from it.”

🎥 Watch more inspiring ACE entrepreneur stories here: bit.ly/aceworldcupkickoff

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Through a powerful collaboration between Kennesaw State University's Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University , MUST Ministries , the University of Notre Dame 's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) | McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. , the ACE Program is helping entrepreneurs transform big dreams into thriving businesses that strengthen our communities.

07/13/2026

For ACE Fellow Sara Rose Davenport, her entrepreneurial journey began during a time of personal struggle. After contracting COVID while working as a nurse’s assistant in 2023, she found herself suffering physically and emotionally. Making art lifted her spirits and she imagined ways to help others benefit from the healing power of art. It was during her recovery that Davenport received an email inviting her into the ACE program’s inaugural cohort.

“It was very exciting and daunting at times because I realized there was so much that I didn’t know,” she said. “Everybody was very welcoming and they provided me with so much information.”

Through ACE, Davenport connected to mentors who taught her the importance of resilience.

“I learned not to become dejected when things don’t go exactly how you expect them to go,” she said. “The journey of entrepreneurship is full of unexpected surprises. Sometimes there are hurdles that you have to jump over and you have to adapt.”

Today her nonprofit, Comeback Kid Studios, provides essentials to people facing hardship: winter clothing, hygiene items and even art supplies, which Davenport views as critical for emotional healing.

“It gives this true sense of purpose and fulfillment to express yourself artistically,” she said. “I think everyone is an artist in their own right, and everybody should be creative and have access to art supplies. That’s our vision for Comeback Kid Studios.”

🎥 Watch more of these inspiring entrepreneur stories here: bit.ly/aceworldcupkickoff

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Through a powerful collaboration between Kennesaw State University's Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University , MUST Ministries , the University of Notre Dame 's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) | McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business , and The Coca-Cola Company | Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. , the ACE Program is helping entrepreneurs transform big dreams into thriving businesses that strengthen our communities.

07/12/2026

"I take no pride in being the first of anything. The most important thing is to make sure I'm not the last." - Jewel Burks Solomon

That mindset is what entrepreneurship is all about. Success isn't measured only by what you build for yourself - it's measured by the doors you hold open for those who come behind you.

Jewel Burks Solomon embodies that philosophy. After building and successfully exiting her own AI startup, she has dedicated her career to expanding access to capital, opportunity, and resources for founders who have historically been overlooked. Today, through Collab Capital, she's investing in businesses that strengthen communities and create lasting economic mobility.

That's the spirit we hope every ACE Fellow embraces.

Build a business that thrives. Share what you learn. Lift as you climb. Because the greatest legacy isn't simply becoming the first - it's making sure many more entrepreneurs have the opportunity to follow.

The future of entrepreneurship is brighter when we build it together.

07/10/2026

ACE Fellow David Blake, II of Royalty Martial Arts in Marietta, GA shares how the ACE Program helped prepare him to take over ownership of a franchise on his own. We love his story!

Through a powerful collaboration between Kennesaw State University's Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University , MUST Ministries , the University of Notre Dame 's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) | McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and The Coca-Cola Company | Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc., the ACE Program is helping entrepreneurs transform big dreams into thriving businesses that strengthen our communities long after the final whistle.

From nonprofits changing lives through art, to studios building future leaders, to businesses experiencing remarkable growth, these entrepreneurs are proof that when we invest in people, entire communities win.

The world may be watching Atlanta because of soccer this summer - but we hope they'll also see a city committed to opportunity, innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

🎥 Learn more and watch these inspiring entrepreneur stories here: bit.ly/aceworldcupkickoff

07/08/2026

Right now, our ACE Fellows are in one of the most transformative phases of the program: mentorship. Each ACE Fellow has been paired with an accomplished entrepreneur or business leader who has volunteered their time, experience and wisdom to help navigate the challenges of building a business. These mentors have walked the path before. They've celebrated wins, learned from setbacks and are now choosing to invest in someone else's journey.

To our ACE Fellows: ask the questions. Be curious. Be coachable. Take notes. Share the hard stuff, not just the highlights. The conversations you have during this season may shape your business for years to come.

To our mentors: thank you for believing in the next generation of entrepreneurs and for pouring your knowledge into businesses that will strengthen our communities.

The ACE Program isn't just about building stronger businesses - it's about building stronger leaders, one relationship at a time.

06/27/2026

⚽ As the world turns its eyes to Atlanta during the FIFA World Cup 26™, we're proud to show the world something else our city does exceptionally well: investing in entrepreneurs. As part of our own ACE World Cup Kickoff, we're highlighting just a few of the incredible entrepreneurs whose stories prove that when you invest in people, entire communities thrive.

A special thank you to Mayor Andre Dickens for sharing his support of the ACE (Aspiring Community Entrepreneurs) Program and recognizing the importance of empowering local small businesses as Atlanta welcomes visitors from around the globe.

Through a powerful collaboration between Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University , MUST Ministries , the University of Notre Dame 's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) | McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame , and The Coca-Cola Company | Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. , the ACE Program is helping entrepreneurs transform big dreams into thriving businesses that strengthen our communities long after the final whistle.

From nonprofits changing lives through art, to martial arts studios building future leaders, to businesses experiencing remarkable growth, these entrepreneurs are proof that when we invest in people, entire communities win.

The world may be watching Atlanta because of soccer this summer - but we hope they'll also see a city committed to opportunity, innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Thank you, Mayor Dickens, for helping shine a spotlight on this incredible work!

🎥 Watch these inspiring entrepreneur stories here: bit.ly/aceworldcupkickoff

06/21/2026

Sometimes the most important thing a mentor does is help someone see what's possible. Thanks to the fathers who encourage curiosity, build confidence and inspire Georgia's to dream bigger. You help shape the leaders, innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.

Happy Father's Day from ACE!