Br’er is a venture I’m currently developing with a team as part of a class project that we plan to continue beyond the course. We’re building a nicotine replacement device designed to help people transition away from nicotine addiction in a safer and more sustainable way. So far, we’ve defined the problem, validated demand through research and data, and are now working on early prototypes and brand development. This project has taught me how to turn ideas into real ventures by using data, customer insight, and business fundamentals.

OmFrame was an online cultural art store I created and ran myself. I designed the artwork, built the Shopify site, and ran ads on Facebook and Pinterest to bring in customers. Although the business brought in some revenue, I realized that the product didn’t provide enough value relative to cost, which limited growth. This experience taught me the importance of solving a real problem and having a clear value proposition before developing products.

Snack A Week was a customizable snack box service that I started for parents to save time and money while providing snacks kids genuinely enjoyed. I sold over 500 ready-to-go snack boxes, partnered with schools, and donated boxes to a local food pantry. This was my first real experience running a business which pushed me to to talk with customers, handle fulfillment and market products on my own. The biggest lesson I took away was to take initiative and learn along the way, rather than waiting for the perfect moment to start.