This Month’s Entrepreneurship Fund Kickstarter Grant Winner
Congratulations to our Kickstarter Grant Winners who will receive support for their entrepreneurial projects: MuseRoom and Red Hair Salon.
The Entrepreneurship Fund provides financial support for the entrepreneurial projects of undocumented young people working to create positive social change. Every month we award up to $2,000 short-term, non-renewable funding through our Entrepreneurship Fund Kickstarter Grants.
MuseRoom
Entrepreneurs: Amritpal Kaur and Avi Stewart (California)
Both first-generation college students at Cal State Northridge, Amrit Kaur is an undocumented filmmaker from Punjab, India and Avi Stewart is an African American musician from San Bernardino, CA. As working artists of color, they are all too familiar with feeling broke, discouraged, and burned out. That’s why they created MuseRoom, a reliable tool for artists to find fulfilling employment and further their careers in their field. Tapping into the rich collective wisdom of the creatives in their community, MuseRoom not only connects artists to gigs in their area, but also offers professional development through workshops, webinars, and support groups.
Even though MuseRoom is designed to serve all artists in the Southern California region, Amrit and Avi are especially committed to breaking down the barriers that keep POC, undocumented, and other marginalized people from pursuing creative careers. They want MuseRoom to serve as a hub of opportunities for people who otherwise would not have the resources to earn a living as artists, building pathways to greater community wealth and representation.
Facebook: @MuseRoom_US
Twitter: @MRoom_Official
Instagram: @Museroomofficial
Red Hair Salon
Entrepreneurs: Maria Neda (California)
Maria Neda was born in Sonora, México and received her degree in Accounting from Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora. Years later, she studied cosmetology and decided to pursue a career in the beauty industry. Now she combines both skill sets in the management of her business, Red Hair Salon.
Passionate about beauty and determined to secure a better quality of life for herself and her community, Maria founded Red Hair Salon in 2013 to create a place where clients can relax, have friendly cross-cultural conversations, and leave with improved confidence. As a business owner, she believes strongly in the importance of continuing to learn new skills and techniques as well as working alongside people with a range of cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
Maria knows from experience how difficult it is to be an immigrant entrepreneur without access to traditional funding or support. That’s why she is excited to install new workstations at the salon for recent immigrant cosmetologists to rent as they get their businesses off the ground. Taking into consideration how many service industry workers in her community have been hit hard by COVID-19, Red Hair Salon will also offer family haircut discounts on the first Tuesday of every month.
Facebook: @redhairsalonazusa
Eager to kickstart your entrepreneurial or freelance project? Consider applying for a Kickstarter Grant today. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed every month. Learn More
