Each Friday in February, we are featuring one of our 2021 Women of Color Incubator Pitch Competition winners. These up-and-coming Black women business owners are sure to inspire and motivate other young Black women entrepreneurs, and all of us, to pursue their own business ventures.
Meet Mia Thornton, chief executive officer of MainSail Technologies LLC and 1st Place Awardee from Howard University.
What inspired you to start your business?
The Global Pandemic reinforced how precious life and the ambitions we often defer to “tomorrow” are. I have always wanted to start my own business and these unprecedented times reinforced the idea that time waits for no woman! So, I’m starting now!
What has the entrepreneurship journey looked like for you so far?
It has proven to be a remarkable growth experience, one that has reinforced my ability to be strategic and impactful in the IT field.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a young female entrepreneur?
Receiving the support, encouragement and wisdom of established female entrepreneurs invested in ensuring that other female CEOs have improved startup experiences.
Where do you see yourself in one year? In five years?
I see myself developing a strong customer base and reputation, backed by quality service and memorable customer experiences.
What advice would you give to other female founders just starting their business?
Be relentless and confident. Know what you offer to the industry and customer base you would like to affect and go for it!
How would you describe your experience in the WBENC Women of Color Incubator?
The featured speakers and member leadership provided a remarkable learning experience for individuals at various places in their entrepreneurial journey.
What did you learn during the program that will help you grow your business?
I truly benefited from the Design Thinking Exercises, the emphasis on refining our value propositions and the opportunity to articulate our value in the context of a pitch!
What’s next for you and your business?
I am continuing to pursue seed capital and looking for opportunities to demonstrate our value to industry customers.
