NEW YORK — The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) recently recognized the ninth cohort of its Emerging Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program, and one of the participants is a laundry services business CEO.
Daniel Ellis of Aloha Laundry Life is in a group of 50 people taking part in a nine-month experience uniquely designed to provide the next generation of minority entrepreneurs (ages 19-35) with skills, tools and strategies to start or grow their innovative businesses.
Aloha Laundry Life is a wash-and-fold pickup/delivery laundry service in which all transactions and customer interactions are conducted through an app, utilizing local operators working at local laundromats.
The business has service areas around the country, including Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Bellingham, Washington; Chicago; Las Vegas; Salt Lake City; San Diego; and Phoenix.
“As NMSDC continues its march to $1 trillion in annual revenue for NMSDC-certified MBEs, we know how essential it is that we cultivate the minority business leaders of the future,” says NMSDC Senior Director of MBE Services and Strategic Partnerships Jetheda Hernandez. “To accelerate the growth of the next generation of certified businesses, we have expanded the EYE program to include the largest number of participants in its history.”
EYE programming examines proven best practices to address common issues Gen Z and millennial entrepreneurs face in the context of today’s business environment, including the five key methods of operating a successful business; strategies to anticipate organizational needs and execute innovative responses; professional development and access to top business leaders and corporate executives; and supply chain processes and the benefits of developing relationships with supply chain practitioners.
Participants must obtain NMSDC MBE certification (if not already certified), and will have the opportunity to compete in a pitch competition at the 2024 Annual Conference in October.
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