Carol Ward

Founder, Outside the Lines Consulting

Crossing the Finish Line: Carol Ward First Launcher to Complete Program

As a participant in the Launch1000 program, Carol worked to bring her vision to provide real world, affordable business planning and solutions to emerging artists to life. Carol’s new business, Outside the Lines Consulting, helps artists to increase their income and gain more opportunities to show their work in dynamic and diverse environments.

“I decided to focus on my idea now because it felt like artists, more than ever, need an advocate for them. I want to assist them by using my twenty years of curatorial, strategic planning, project management and overall creative thinking to get their work not only seen, but sold,” Ward said.

On July 2^nd, Carol became the first participant to complete the Launch1000 program. Here are a few highlights from her journey to launch.

Biggest Breakthrough or A-Ha Moment:
“My biggest breakthrough was realizing that I could expand my consulting opportunities to include project management in the arts sector, and beyond. Working with local towns, Chambers of Commerce and businesses to bring arts experiences to Westchester.”

Top Takeaway from Launch1000:
“First and foremost is to believe in yourself . . . and along with that always be open to feedback that will allow you to think about your ideas in different ways. Also, creating an amazing network of people to brainstorm with and have as a support system through the good and bad times.”

Highlights Since Launching:
“Getting to meet coaches, experts and peers who have helped me become better as a person and entrepreneur. I coordinated an Arts Stroll in Larchmont that led to being asked to become a member of the Board of Directors for the Chamber itself. And developing and implementing a summer long artist market in partnership with Ridge Hill in Yonkers.”

Now that Carol has completed Launch1000, she is focusing on growing her client base of artists by completing her website and doing some extra marketing online. Carol is also working on some proposals for project management, which she hopes will be accepted for the remainder of 2021.

You can keep up with what’s happening at Outside the Lines Consulting on Facebook and Instagram.

Erica Christ

Founder, FMR Well

Launch1000 Helps Port Chester Entrepreneur Scale and Disaster-Proof Her Business

Fitness and nutrition expert Erica Christ entered the Launch1000 program looking to revisit her pre-pandemic plans of developing outpatient nutrition plans for orthopedic surgery patients. Having provided outpatient nutrition services at a local hospital for more than 20-years, Erica planned to apply her first-hand experience to meet the needs of a surgeon who approached her about the concept shortly before COVID hit Westchester.

Through Launch1000, Erica was able to hone her initial plan, make refinements and ultimately develop an app that would allow her to scale her existing business. She even found a way to maintain the personable, tailored approach to supporting clients that she is know for at her brick-and-mortar Pilates studio and bring that personalized service to clients who are using the app.

Biggest Breakthrough or A-Ha Moment:
“I went into the program thinking about developing nutrition plans for orthopedic surgery patients as a separate initiative. When I realized I could accomplish this by developing an app, which would allow me to scale and disaster-proof my existing business rather than creating something separate, I knew I was on the right path.”

Top Takeaway from Launch1000:
“Launch1000 helped me rethink the way I was going to approach this project. Before Launch1000, I hadn’t considered an app. I ended up with a stronger product because of this program.”

Highlights Since Finishing the Launch1000 Program:
“I’m in the process of beta testing the Pilates portion of my app now and will soon move on to testing the nutrition components. I just sent out a teaser to my clients and look forward to providing personalized guidance to clients via the app when I can’t see them in-person.”

You can learn more about Erica’s app by visiting FMRWell.com.

Ivin Huggin

Founder, CutNet LLC

He’s Launched: An Introduction to Ivin Huggan’s Concierge Mobile Haircutting Venture

As a participant in the Launch1000 program, Ivin worked to transform CutNet LLC from a concept to a reality. Driven to develop an on-demand haircutting service run via an app to life, Ivin used Launch1000 to hone his service delivery model.

“My initial idea was to develop an Uber-like app for personal grooming services,” Ivin said. “While I executed my initial idea through Launch1000, the program helped me to develop a new, stronger business plan.”

Ivin recently welcomed his first client and has quickly built a database of stylists with varying specialties. Here are a few highlights from his journey to launch:

Biggest Breakthrough or A-Ha Moment:
“The process of forming my service was surprising. My business concept is the same idea I had before entering the program, but the business model is really different.”

Top Takeaway from Launch1000:
“My top takeaway from working in Launch 1000 was being able to have the resources provided to you that the average entrepreneur who is starting to start their own venture and not having the access to the resources or the proper coaching to lead them into the right path.”

Highlights Since Launching:
“A celebrity hair stylist was among the first 10 stylists to join CutNet LLC and I have already scaled my presence beyond Westchester.”

Now that Ivin has completed Launch1000, he is focusing on growing his network of stylists to 100. You can keep up with what’s happening at CutNet LLC on LinkedIn.

Adrienne Michel

Entrepreneur