The WBENC Women of Color Incubator is a premier program for aspiring entrepreneurs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, offering the resources, community, and support needed to turn ideas into thriving ventures. This transformative program goes beyond traditional support, fostering creativity, resilience, and ambition while inspiring future innovators.
The curriculum guides participants through every stage of their entrepreneurial journey, from refining ideas and mastering financial strategies to building prototypes and launching ventures. The program culminated in an exciting Pitch Competition, awarding seed capital and all-expenses-paid trips to the 2025 WBENC National Conference in New Orleans, connecting winners with a network of over 4,000 attendees.
The WOC Incubator Pitch Competition at Paul Quinn College, brought to you by Southwest, was a dynamic showcase of the university’s brightest entrepreneurial talent. We are excited to highlight two outstanding winners in this article and explore their innovative business ventures.
Pitch Competition Award Winner: Kennedy Austin│ Forefront
Forefront is a venture capital firm designed to provide funding to black owned beauty ventures.
Q: What inspired you to start your business?
I was inspired to start my business because, while black women dominate the beauty industry in terms of revenue contribution, they are not represented in the same regard as leaders within the space. I wanted to start my business in order to give black business owners (with beauty ventures) access to appropriate funding to help their entrepreneurial dreams come true.
Q: What challenges are you facing building your business, and how are you overcoming them?
One challenge I have had while building my business is finding a limited partner to invest in my firm. While also staying on top of trends and news within the industry.
I am working through this challenge by continuing my research and continuing to network with potential LP’s to pitch my firm to.
Q: How has being part of the WOC Incubator influenced your approach to entrepreneurship and innovation?
Being a part of the WOC has inspired me to reach beyond my preconceived beliefs of entrepreneurship. Being a part of this program gave me the resources to bring my greatest entrepreneurial ideas to life.
Q: What key elements do you think made your pitch stand out?
I believe my tie-in to lack of representation, in an industry dominated by black women consumers made my pitch stand out. Informing the judges on a very real issue in a multi-billion-dollar industry supported my business idea.
Business Innovation Winner: Ayannah King│ Knot Your Bama
Knot Your Bama is my crochet business, where I create one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces that let people express themselves through unique and sustainable fashion. I’m passionate about designing items that combine artistry and practicality, offering everything from cozy wearables to bold statement accessories. Each piece is made with care and intention, ensuring customers get something personal and meaningful that truly stands out from mass-produced trends.
At Knot Your Bama, I focus on empowering others to embrace slow fashion and individuality. My mission is to provide customizable, high-quality alternatives to fast fashion, where every stitch reflects creativity and connection. Whether it’s a custom design or a ready-made favorite, each product is crafted to be cherished for years to come.
Q: What inspired you to start your business?
I started Knot Your Bama as a way to reconnect with myself after coming back from a tough time with my mental health. Crochet became a source of comfort and healing, reminding me of the joy I felt when I first learned the craft at a young age. Taught by my mom, crochet has always been a creative outlet for me, and revisiting it during a period of free time gave me the chance to rediscover its power to bring peace and purpose.
What inspired me most was how crochet allowed me to create something meaningful with my own hands. It gave me a sense of control, creativity, and freedom that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. That realization sparked the idea to turn my passion into a business—one that could share that same comfort and joy with others through handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. Knot Your Bama represents not just my love for crochet but also my journey of self-expression, healing, and growth.
Q: What key lessons did you learn from the mentors and peers you met during the WOC Incubator?
During the WOC Incubator, I learned invaluable lessons about perseverance, innovation, and collaboration. From my mentors, I gained insights into the importance of setting clear goals, developing a strong brand identity, and remaining adaptable in the face of challenges. They emphasized the value of staying authentic to my vision while being open to feedback and new opportunities for growth.
My peers taught me the power of community and shared experiences. Hearing their stories of triumphs and setbacks reminded me that entrepreneurship is a journey, not a race. Collaborating with others in the program reinforced the importance of networking, mutual support, and uplifting one another as women of color striving to make our mark in the business world. These lessons have become the foundation of how I approach building and growing Knot Your Bama.
Q: Where do you see yourself in one year? How about 5 years?
In one year, I see Knot Your Bama steadily growing as a recognized crochet brand, with a loyal customer base and an expanding collection of unique, handmade pieces. I aim to enhance my online presence, launch my crochet shop, and establish partnerships that align with my vision for sustainable and customizable fashion. Personally, I hope to balance my business with my psychology studies, finding ways to integrate art therapy principles into my craft.
In five years, I envision Knot Your Bama thriving as a successful business, providing not just handmade products but also workshops and resources for others to explore crochet as a creative outlet. By then, I hope to have earned my degree in psychology and started working towards my goal of becoming a psychiatrist, incorporating art therapy into my practice. My long-term dream is to blend my passion for mental health and crochet, using both to inspire and support others in their journeys.
Q: How has being part of the WOC Incubator influenced your approach to entrepreneurship and innovation?
Being part of the WOC Incubator has transformed my approach to entrepreneurship and innovation by teaching me to view challenges as opportunities for growth and creativity. The program helped me understand the importance of building a business that is not only authentic to my vision but also adaptable to changing needs. I learned how to develop a strategic plan, leverage my strengths, and align my brand with the values of sustainability, individuality, and community.
The incubator also encouraged me to embrace collaboration and to see innovation as a continuous process. By engaging with mentors and peers, I realized that successful entrepreneurship involves taking risks, asking for help, and staying open to new perspectives. These lessons have empowered me to refine my goals for Knot Your Bama, approach obstacles with confidence, and push my creativity further than I thought possible.
