Back the Builders: Meet the Entrepreneurs Reshaping Our Communities
May is Small Business Month and here at ASSETS, we’re taking this time to spotlight a few of the visionary entrepreneurs who recently completed our Idea Incubator program. These dreamers and doers are building businesses that go beyond profit. They’re creating community, and bringing big ideas to life.
This month, we invite you to Back the Builders. Your donation helps us provide accessible capital, business training, and one-on-one mentorship to underserved entrepreneurs. These are the folks rewriting the rules, and they deserve our support.
Meet the Builders
Michelle Asia | Meraki
Michelle’s dream? A space where dance, music, and art fuel personal growth and mental wellness. Meraki is part movement studio, part healing space. Thanks to the Incubator, she gained the tools to shape her mission and test her ideas. She’s laying the foundation for a future creative hub where people can reconnect with themselves and each other through movement and community.
Christian Przybylek | Wren & Finch Aerial Imagery and Maps
After a life-changing hike on the Appalachian Trail, Christian launched Wren & Finch, a drone-based mapping and imagery business focused on conservation. He’s blending geography, data science, and storytelling to help organizations protect the environment. The incubator gave him the practical tools to turn his passion into a powerful service.
Nakeisha Daniels | Glam U
Nakeisha is redefining what it means to show up in style. Glam U provides glam services to high school seniors who may not have access to them, especially for prom season. Her business is about more than makeup, it’s about confidence. With help from ASSETS, Nakeisha is scaling her social enterprise and building a movement of beauty, and empowerment.
By giving to the Back the Builders campaign, you are helping visionary business owners access the resources, mentorship, and networks they need to thrive. Every dollar fuels a future where sustainability, and community come first.
Emely Corniel | Filo Branding
Emely is building bridges across digital divides. With Filo Branding, she is looking to help small business owners build strong online presences, especially those facing language and tech barriers. ASSETS helped her sharpen her focus, and now she’s ready to create digital spaces where everyone can be seen, heard, and empowered to grow.
Jean-Marie Merkle | surpr!se hotel + grocery
Jean-Marie is building more than a hotel, she’s creating an experience. Think maximalist design, local vibes, and immersive hospitality that makes every stay unforgettable. With ASSETS’ support, she turned her bold vision into concrete next steps. Now she’s working toward launching a hotel where every corner sparks curiosity, and every guest feels inspired.
Sally Chuquimia | Cultured Coffee
For Sally, coffee is culture, and Cultured Coffee is her way of sharing it with the world. Her mobile coffee cart will celebrate Latino heritage through every thoughtfully brewed cup. With ASSETS’ support, she’s bringing this vision to life, creating a space on wheels where community gathers, and culture is honored in every sip.
These entrepreneurs aren’t just launching businesses. They’re building spaces for healing, celebration, creativity, and connection. They’re turning bold ideas into community-rooted impact.
When you give to ASSETS, you’re helping unlock that potential. Your support means more accessible capital, and more opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive.
This Small Business Month, let’s come together to Back the Builders. Because when they rise, we all do. Donate today and stand with the builders shaping stronger, more vibrant communities.