In this article, we’re shining a spotlight on five trailblazing NextGen entrepreneurs who have taken their early‑stage ventures from campus to the camera—stepping boldly into high‑stakes, on‑screen opportunities that put their innovation, resilience, and leadership to the test. What unites these standout founders? Each one is a proud alum of the WBENC Collegiate Accelerator (CA), a powerhouse entrepreneurial program that has helped shape some of the most promising young innovators in the country. 2026 CA applications are open now until March 2nd!
Grab your popcorn (and maybe a notebook), because their stories aren’t just entertaining—they’re packed with insights, grit, and behind‑the‑scenes lessons from their filming experiences and on‑screen debuts. Whether you’re an aspiring founder or simply love a good entrepreneurial success story, get ready to be inspired by the audacity, creativity, and unstoppable drive of these rising leaders.
Meet the Founders!
Rachel Domb, Rooted Living
Rooted Living is a women-founded, mission-driven snack company redefining a wasteful and processed packaged food industry. We craft plant-based, gluten-free, and refined-ingredient-free granola that is award winning! Our granola is wrapped in 100% home compostable packaging that breaks down in just 3 months when composting. We make it easy to shop, snack and support your values!
Founded by Rachel Domb, Rooted Living was built on the belief that better-for-you food should also be better for the planet. From strategic production partnerships to eco-conscious packaging and community-driven marketing, every aspect of our operations is designed with impact in mind. As we continue to grow through retail expansion, e-commerce, and mission-aligned collaborations, Rooted Living remains rooted in transparency, innovation, and empowering individuals to snack more sustainably.
Featured on Amazon’s 60 Day Hustle
Tanvi Gadamsetti, BRCĒ
BRCĒ is an advanced material-tech startup engineering patented polymer composite innovations at the fiber level to redefine how performance materials function. Its proprietary Lattice Grip® platform technology enables directional grip, controlled tension, and extreme durability — unlocking new capabilities across athletic performance gear, surgical tissue-regeneration meshes, and next-generation tactical fabrics. By building functionality directly into the material itself, BRCĒ eliminates the need for commoditized material options, delivering lightweight, high-strength solutions designed to outperform legacy textiles. BRCĒ is redefining performance gear—delivering durability, safety, and innovation built for the highest level, yet accessible to all.
Featured on ABC’s Shark Tank airing March 4, 2026 at 10 PM Eastern
Raina Ford, Project I See U
Project I See U, LLC is a social entrepreneurship company that produces educational products designed to support the mental health needs of children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Our current focus is on “glass siblings”; children who grow up with a sibling who has a serious illness or disability and whose needs are often overlooked as a result. Through books, workbooks, and thoughtfully designed merchandise, we create meaningful stories featuring relatable characters who navigate experiences such as glass sibling syndrome, neglect, abuse, and community violence. Each resource is intentionally crafted not only to reflect these realities, but also to equip children and families with healthy, practical coping strategies.
Featured on Revolt TV’s Bet on Black series: https://youtu.be/fBN4fKICePA?si=peRyMP3QX16DJ9zT
Kristen Dunning, Gently Soap
Gently Soap is a sustainable, herbal-based and fragrance-free soap brand for sensitive skin, born from Kristen’s personal struggle with eczema, and combined with her horticultural studies background and her family’s agricultural heritage. Over the past two years, Gently Soap has generated $1.7 million in revenue, fueled by national features on Shark Tank, Oprah’s Favorite Things, The View, Good Morning America, ABC World News, and other major platforms. This widespread visibility created strong brand awareness and overwhelming customer demand. Our accelerated growth and loyal customer base captured Walmart’s attention at their 2025 Open Call, where we were awarded a Golden Ticket, positioning Gently Soap for continued national expansion!
Featured on ABC’s Shark Tank
https://youtu.be/WjiHxr9o1_o?si=X62w7xYSiajlBWEk
Tiffany Gil, Shezza
Shezza is a new foam-padded sock company that has gone viral on social media gaining 157M views across our social media channels and over 100,000 followers combined. Our socks prevent blisters on the back of the heel from new or hard to break in shoes. Our mission is simple: we help people move through their lives more comfortably and confidently.
Featured on Amazon’s Buy It Now
How did you first learn about the filming opportunity, and what prompted you to audition?
Rachel: They reached out to me via Instagram! At first, I thought it was a scam. I investigated the show and saw another healthy food brand I knew, so I decided to go through with the interview!
Tanvi: We were invited onto Shark Tank; a producer saw us pitch at SXSW and reached out shortly after — and the rest was history. We had grown up watching the show and learning from it, so the opportunity felt surreal. It wasn’t something we chased — it was something we had unknowingly been preparing for our entire entrepreneurial journey.
Raina: I learned about the opportunity to film for Revolt TV’s Bet on Black series through a spontaneous direct message from a producer at Revolt TV. They reached out to share details about the show and explained how the mission of Project I See U deeply resonated with the cast and crew. After several meetings with the casting team, I was selected and soon found myself flying to Atlanta, Georgia, alongside eight other talented student entrepreneurs, all competing for the chance to win $30,000 in capital.
Kristen: I was trying to convince my parents to let me pursue Gently full time after college and one of my professors encouraged me to apply for Shark Tank. I submitted the 90-word abstract on ABC.com and the rest is history!
Tiffany: They found my page on Tik Tok after one of my videos went viral and emailed me!
How did you leverage the Collegiate Accelerator, your mentors, and the WBENC community to prepare, build confidence, and navigate the experience?
Rachel: I wouldn’t have gotten as far in the season if it wasn’t for my WBENC Collegiate Accelerator mentors, Lois and Bob from Soft Stuff. They helped get me through an incredibly hard sales challenge by placing a huge PO. I also leaned on the WBENC community during a website visibility challenge and the WBENC Instagram reposted and circulated my video asking people to go to the Rooted Living website!
Tanvi: I leaned heavily on my mentors throughout the process. The Collegiate Accelerator and WBENC community gave us more than advice — they gave us access. They taught us how to strategically leverage our network, refine our messaging, and think bigger. Through their introductory connections and guidance, we were able to pressure-test our pitch and strengthen our positioning.
Raina: I can confidently say that participating in WBENC programs such as the Entrepreneur Incubator and the Collegiate Accelerator has strengthened me as a strategic thinker, enhanced my creativity, and shaped me into a stronger businesswoman overall. Being exposed so early in my collegiate career to such accomplished and inspiring female entrepreneurs significantly built the confidence I now carry into every room I enter.
The relationships I cultivated through WBENC have been invaluable. They have given me a trusted network of mentors and peers I can reach out to whenever I need guidance, insight, or support. The skills, knowledge, and connections I developed during my freshman year in 2023 were clearly reflected in my performance on Bet On Black during now my junior year in 2026. WBENC played a foundational role in preparing me for that moment.
Kristen: Pitching on the WBENC stage and at other collegiate competitions strengthened my business acumen and stage presence, helping me get comfortable answering tough questions under pressure.
Beyond practice, the mentorship and feedback refined my strategy and boosted my confidence. Being surrounded by ambitious founders reminded me that I belonged in those rooms, which made a powerful difference.
Tiffany: The previous training and practice as a pitch finalist in the 2022 WBENC CA Cohort helped with my delivery on the big screen!
How did you work through feelings of nervousness and remain grounded during the filming process?
Rachel: The following reminders helped me work through these feelings. 1 – Remembering that this is a once in a lifetime experience that I will only grow from. 2 – Big dreams and big goals require people to take up a big amount of space (which I deserve to do)! 3 – I called my dad and my friends all the time to update them. 4 – This was a huge independent experience that stretched me to find grounding on my own, which is a lifelong lesson.
Tanvi: One of my earliest mentors told me: “Always carry an air of confidence — no one knows your business better than you do.” That became my mantra. At the end of the day, we built this company from the ground up. We’ve lived every challenge, every decision, every pivot. Reminding myself of that helped me stay grounded and focused under pressure.
Raina: I had never been on a full production set before, so it was natural to feel some intense nerves at first. However, I credit my ability to stay grounded and show up as my most confident and authentic self to my level of preparation; not just for that specific moment, but throughout my entire journey leading up to it.
I firmly believe that having deep knowledge and the ability to clearly communicate your thoughts are powerful advantages. When I take the time to thoroughly research my consumer market, target audience, and industry gaps, I feel fully equipped to answer tough questions, defend my ideas, and engage in meaningful, thought-provoking conversations. That preparation is what ultimately transformed my nerves into confidence.
Kristen: What helped me work through feelings of nervousness and remain grounded during the filming process was preparation and perspective. My dad played a huge role in that. He watched old Shark Tank episodes and would quiz me with the kinds of tough questions the Sharks typically ask. He challenged me on margins, growth strategy, customer acquisition, manufacturing, and even my personal story so that nothing would catch me off guard. By the time I stepped onto the carpet, I had already “been in the tank” dozens of times in our living room.
Tiffany: Practice, practice, practice! That and overall being grateful throughout the journey for this opportunity.
As a young entrepreneur, what helped you find your voice and presence in spaces shared with seasoned business leaders?
Rachel: What helped me find my voice were spaces for women entrepreneurs, specifically a club at my college called WISE and WBENC’s Collegiate Accelerator. These were spaces where being confident, vocal, and business savvy were admirable traits. I felt way more comfortable and empowered to be a successful businesswoman because of these spaces.
Tanvi: Early on, I struggled with this. We’ve pitched in rooms full of executives twice our age who sometimes underestimated us simply because we were young. Our startup would occasionally be dismissed as “cute,” not because of the product — but because of our age.
At first, I would minimize myself to make others more comfortable. But I’ve learned that confidence isn’t arrogance — it’s ownership. I walk into rooms now knowing I am the best person to speak on our business. I learned that age doesn’t invalidate execution – you can question many things, but you can’t deny what we’ve built and the traction we’ve achieved. I let our results speak louder than assumptions.
Raina: Community means everything to me, and I truly believe it has been one of the foundations of my success so far. As a young entrepreneur, it’s easy to fall into self-doubt or subconscious limitations. That’s why having an uplifting and supportive community around you is so important.
First and foremost, my parents have played a pivotal role in shaping my confidence. From a young age, they made sure I understood the power of my voice. They consistently encouraged me to participate in public speaking and youth enrichment programs that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Because of that, I learned to become comfortable with being uncomfortable from a young age.
Today, I embrace unfamiliar spaces as opportunities rather than obstacles. I lean into discomfort, knowing it gives me the chance to make my presence, ideas, and perspective known.
Kristen: What helped me most was remembering my “why,” and owning my story. Gently Soap was born from my personal journey with eczema and my background in agricultural science, and that lived experience gave me a perspective no one else in the room could offer.
I also reminded myself that I would not be invited into those spaces if there wasn’t a need. I was there because something was missing and I was building the solution. That mindset shifted me from feeling intimidated to feeling responsible, which allowed me to speak with clarity and conviction.
Tiffany: Talking to other business owners and actively seeking out their advice helped me find my voice and presence.
What traction or new opportunities have come your way since filming wrapped up?
Rachel: The show only premiered a few days ago (Feb 19), but the opportunities have been abundant, even before the show was officially released. I became very close with some of the judges on the show, who have either mentored me, invested directly in Rooted Living or have connected me with incredibly valuable people! I was also able to use this show as a huge tool for fundraising – showing myself as a competent and powerful founder and showing upcoming visibility.
Tanvi: Since filming, we’ve seen increased inbound interest from strategic partners, retail buyers, and investors who resonate with our mission and traction. The exposure has amplified conversations that were already in motion and opened doors to new ones at a national scale. It validated the work we’ve been doing behind the scenes and accelerated momentum across multiple channels.
Raina: Since wrapping Bet On Black, I have built a truly one-of-a-kind network, both from my time on set and from the overall success of the series, which garnered more than 2 million views per episode. As a result, I’ve received recognition from Howard University and the School of Business for my work and representation. I’ve also stepped into new leadership roles, serving on the other side of the table as a pitch competition judge for WBENC and Jack and Jill programs.
In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to host my own pitch competition in partnership with my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship, giving away $1,000. These experiences have not only expanded my network, but have also allowed me to pour back into the entrepreneurial community that continues to support and uplift me.
Kristen: Since filming wrapped, the momentum has been incredible. One of the most exciting opportunities was being named to 2024 Oprah’s Favorite Things, which significantly expanded our national visibility and customer base. Oprah herself called Gently Soap the best bar soap for sensitive skin!
Tiffany: Several opportunities have come from this experience such as being featured on Amazon’s Small Business Podcast and Amazon’s Small Business Feature.
Where can people follow or watch your journey, and what should they be on the lookout for next?
Rachel: 60 Day Hustle Season 2 on Amazon Prime Video is live now! If people are interested in keeping up with Rooted Living, Instagram is the best way to stay in touch @rootedliving.
Tanvi: We’ll be airing on Shark Tank on March 4 at 10PM ET on ABC. If you want to follow our journey, follow us on Instagram at @brce_shop and on LinkedIn for company updates. We have major retail expansions, new product launches, and national partnerships coming soon — this is just the beginning.
Raina: Those who are invested in following the journey of Project I See U can connect with us across all our social media platforms (Instagram: @Project.iseeu) to stay up to date on upcoming announcements, initiatives, and projects.
Supporters should also be on the lookout for new books and products launching by the end of the year, along with continued intentional impact and community-centered work led by Project I See U.
Kristen: You can follow our journey at Gently Soap on social media (gentlysoap), and online by subscribing to our email newsletter as we continue to grow and share behind-the-scenes moments of our expansion. I’m always sharing personal updates.
Next up is Walmart!! After winning a Golden Ticket at Walmart’s 2025 Open Call, we are preparing for national retail expansion with the goal of making holistic eczema care accessible to families across the country so that more people can live Gently!
Tiffany: Shezza is a WINNING product on Episode 11 of Buy It Now on Amazon Prime Video. Supporters can connect with us and on our social media @shezzasocks!
Learn more about the WBENC Collegiate Accelerator program and apply for the 2026 CA program by March 2nd at https://www.wbenc.org/programs/collegiate-accelerator/
