“The people I’ve had the opportunity to interact with, from my peers in the program to coordinators Ben and Gabriella, have helped me tremendously in taking myself and my ideas seriously. I’ve found phenomenal mentors through the program,” he said.
Antonio Brazelton always knew he had big ideas for starting his own business. He also knew he didn’t have the framework to refine and shape those ideas in a way that would allow him to truly explore his passion for plant science and feeding the world. Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, Cortex One helped make his dream a reality.
The Cortex Square One program is a series of programs that help early-stage entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life through learning and networking opportunities, resources, and mentorship. Last year, Square One’s programs produced 103 graduates, including 23 from its Square One Bootcamp. 65% of graduates are women and 70% are people of color.
Brazelton joined the team in 2022 because he felt he needed a formal framework with clear guidelines to help him bring his ideas to life. He also felt he would benefit from being surrounded by a network of peers and people who were moving in the same direction.
“The Square One Ignite program helped me take the customer discovery interviews I conducted during SLU-ICOR and channel them into a set of real-world problems I could solve,” Brazelton said. “It also helped me realize that I needed to completely pivot from my initial idea to better meet the needs of my potential customers.”
Brazelton owns HerbanAg Tech, a software company dedicated to providing scalable digital resources to the farm-to-table movement. His company is currently developing an app to connect urban farmers and chefs here in the city.
“Urban farmers benefit from the opportunity to grow niche produce varieties at scale,” he said. “This makes them a great partner for local chefs, artisans and grocers who want to provide high-quality, hyperlocal ingredients to their customers.”
He wants to help new urban farmers grow niche products by making it as easy as possible to connect to new markets.
The core of Square One’s mission is to empower people from underserved communities who have traditionally been excluded from the entrepreneurial ecosystem so that St. Louisans, regardless of their background, can contribute to creating a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem.
The program focuses on computer science, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, consumer product manufacturing and food. Cortex Square One provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to successfully launch their businesses, said Ben Molina, the program’s entrepreneur manager.
“We give them validation of their ideas, teach them about the target market and connect them to the local ecosystem,” Molina said, describing Square One Ignite. Square One Ignite is the first step in the program and consists of a four-week session available twice a year.
Square One Bootcamp is the second step and is a 10-week program designed for entrepreneurs to learn the fundamentals of running a business, connecting with mentors and other experts. Entrepreneurs are trained in budgeting, building a pitch, and marketing. They also learn details about product design and personal credit. Partnerships with the St. Louis Empowerment Center, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, the Afghan Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, and the African Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis help keep the program connected to the community.
“We recognize that Cortex has a responsibility, we try to make sure we collaborate with people who are doing similar work throughout the region,” said Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano, vice president of entrepreneurship. Molina added, “Our role is to provide them with the support and tools they need to succeed.”
Ramirez-Arellano said it was clear that Brazelton, who participated in all three stages of the program, had the motivation to succeed.
“He’s shown extreme resilience,” Ramirez-Arellano said. Brazelton sometimes brought his young son to class with him. “It’s very inspiring to see him show such commitment to his future,” she added. Many entrepreneurs have full-time jobs, families and other responsibilities. Participants are provided with transportation such as Uber and Metro Bus/Link passes. “It helps make sure there are no barriers to people coming here,” Ramirez-Arellano said.
Molina said Adjo Honsou, owner of the FuFu n’ Sauce food truck, joined Cortex Square One knowing she wanted to work in the food industry but needed help getting started. The program gave her access to a commercial kitchen and taught her how to develop a network of resources.
“We meet (entrepreneurs) where they are,” Molina said.
Honsou said she liked that the program was slower paced. “I got more in-depth information from the classes I took and the resources,” she said. She said it gave her time to think about how to integrate the material she was learning into her business. For example, she learned how and when to tap into the mentors she met. Honsou came from a more corporate environment and said she also needed to learn how to transition to the entrepreneurial world.
Trinity Griffin joined the program in 2021 after researching resources for small businesses in the St. Louis area. The program helped her move through the idea validation process and develop a better understanding of market fit. Griffin created a mobile app to help people on their emotional journey.
Tracking My Tears records the number of times the user cries. The app collects relevant data about each cry and connects with other users. Tracking My Tears allows the user to track a single physical response across a range of emotions. This helps users identify how their body may be using one response for many different emotions.
To learn more, visit https://squareone.cortexstl.org/
Ashley Winters is a reporter for the St. Louis American.