Generously sponsored by the Truist Foundation

Inspire and build better lives and communities

Clinton Vicks | Albany

The Vicks Estate, Farm, & Fishery

The Vicks Estate, Farm, & Fishery empowers marginalized farmers, advances sustainable agriculture, and drives economic growth in Georgia. Since 2020, it has provided hands-on education, farm-to-school programs, and job opportunities to strengthen local food systems. With $100,000 in funding from the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), Persimmon Collective Fund, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it has partnered with Albany State University, and SOWEGA Rising (founded by a 2023 Truist Foundation Fellowship Alumna). Through workshops with groups like Cornell University, it promotes rural agriculture and Black agrarian heritage.

Derek Jackson | Lilburn

National Collegiate Entertainers Group (NCEG)

National Collegiate Entertainers Group (NCEG) creates economic opportunities for aspiring artists and industry professionals through mentorship, education, and hands-on training. Since 2016, it has guided over 1,000 students across five Georgia chapters, helping them navigate careers and avoid entrepreneurial pitfalls. By offering resources, internships, and job placements, NCEG equips emerging talent with essential skills and connections. Alumni include Billboard-charting musicians and entrepreneurs who have built sustainable careers. The venture has raised $115,000 in capital and built partnerships with Amazon Music and the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta.

Gabrielle Rogers | Lawrenceville

Your Golden Hour Aesthetics

Your Golden Hour Aesthetics empowers young women in underserved Atlanta communities through esthetician training, mentorship, and eco-friendly beauty services. The business has achieved a 100% job placement rate, training and employing 15 local women while hosting over 15 free skincare workshops for 200+ community members. With $10,000 in bootstrap funding, it has seen 30% year-over-year revenue growth and partnered with two local nonprofits to expand outreach, contributing to local economic development and sustainability in the beauty industry.

Jasmin Goodman | Stonecrest

Vantage IQ

Vantage® is an AI-powered career planning platform focused on helping high school students, especially from underserved backgrounds, navigate their educational and career paths. Initially launched in three high schools in Southeast Georgia, the platform received strong feedback, prompting a pivot to a scalable EdTech solution. Jasmin has already piloted the platform, and is now working to develop an MVP, refine its features, and expand beyond Georgia. With $31,000 in revenue, Vantage® aims to provide personalized academic and career guidance, bridging the gap between education and the workforce for students nationwide.

Necole Gibbs | Atlanta

Corporate Chics Enterprises

Aligned with Truist Foundation’s strategic priority to strengthen the supports that allow diverse small businesses to become more financially sustainable and resilient, Corporate Chics Enterprises offers AI-powered digital marketing and consulting services that equip small businesses and community-based organizations with the strategies they need to thrive. Through their work with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, they have assisted over 100 businesses with AI-driven marketing solutions. With $35,000 funding from the Small Business Administration, Necole is focusing on refining her digital marketing course and developing a resource center to support aspiring entrepreneurs. During the Truist Foundation Fellowship, she will launch her MVP, supporting the growth of small businesses in a digitally driven economy.

Nuri Jeong | Atlanta

Goals Unhindered, LLC

Goals Unhindered, LLC equips leaders with data-driven decision-making, innovation, and emotional intelligence skills through experiential learning. Founded in 2023, the venture has generated $5,000 in sales. Its See-Think-Act framework, rooted in neuroscience and design thinking, has supported five executive leaders in improving self-awareness and implementing empathetic leadership strategies. The venture has also sold 30 structured goal planners, enabling customers to achieve over 12,600 daily wins. With upcoming contracts to facilitate interactive, spy-themed skill-building workshops for entrepreneurs and project managers at Emory University, Goals Unhindered is expanding its impact on leadership development and workforce innovation.

Oshia Lewis | Lawrenceville

The Make Cents Foundation

The Make Cents Foundation empowers Georgia individuals through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education. Since launching in 2022, it has raised $230,900 in capital, securing funding from Gwinnett ARPA, Google, and the Georgia Council for the Arts. To date, the foundation has engaged over 500 participants through workshops and after-school programs, with a majority reporting an improved understanding of financial concepts like budgeting. Its flagship program, CodeBeats, has introduced over 100 students to coding and entrepreneurship, helping many complete their first coding project.

Sean James | Atlanta

SCXLE IT

SCXLE IT™ empowers diverse founders to scale sustainable businesses through a focus on operations and strategic growth, driving job creation and economic development in Georgia and beyond. Since launching in December 2023, the venture has raised $90,000 in capital and employs two full-time and three part-time team members. SCXLE IT™ has supported over 367 clients, helping businesses streamline operations, secure funding, and create over 150 jobs across sectors like tech and retail. Notable successes include increasing funding for a Georgia nonprofit by 40%, enabling staff expansion and greater community impact.

Tiffany Terrell | Albany

A Better Way Grocers

A Better Way Grocers addresses food insecurity in Southwest Georgia by providing fresh, nutritious foods through a mobile grocery store and a downtown community market. Since 2019, the venture has raised $140,000 through partnerships with United Way of SWGA, the City of Albany, and Emory University. With a team of four full-time and four part-time employees, it has served over 15,000 customers in food desert areas and now reaches 500+ families monthly. By creating jobs and partnering with local farms, the venture fosters economic growth while improving health outcomes and expanding sustainable food access.

Tracy Tanner | Marietta

Wealthy Habits

Wealthy Habits provides essential financial literacy education to youth, empowering them to make informed financial decisions that foster long-term stability. Since 2012, the program has educated over 14,000 students, with a strong focus on underserved communities. Through interactive workshops and camps, Wealthy Habits equips students with skills to manage money, reduce debt, and build wealth. With $2.5 million in funding, Wealthy Habits is expanding its reach and forming strategic partnerships with schools and community organizations to deliver impactful programming where it’s needed most. By positioning itself as a leader in financial education, Wealthy Habits is driving economic empowerment and long-term financial stability for the next generation.

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all people and communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. For more information about Truist Foundation, visit Truist.com/Foundation.