An experience to remember...

Recently, my phone notified me via memories of an event that happened one year ago where me and the other co-founder attended Investfest. Investfest is a large business expo that happens once a year in Atlanta that consists of different fireside chats and speaker panels. I believe this was our third time attending but first time being a vendor.
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We weren’t sure what to expect being a vendor at such a large conference but were quite excited at the prospects of meeting other black business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The logistics of planning to travel with kids who couldn’t participate in the vending did require some finagling on our part, but we were committed to moving forward with this huge opportunity being presented. With the help and support of family and friends, we were able to attend this large conference with childcare secured and lodging with friends in Atlanta.

Although the vendor experience with Investfest was not seamless (we will not expand on why as we will not dogpile onto the criticism they have already received), we were grateful for the exposure to networking. Because of our busy schedules, we are not avid networkers. We only attend a few major events every year, which limits our ability to get out there and connect with other businesses. So Investfest was a sacrifice we made because we knew it would pay off! We had about 50 people download our app, 25 people join our texting and email service, and about 10 people onboard.
Now this might seem like small numbers to you. But our app is not a typical app. Our app requires a commitment to the process of self-development and a financial investment tied through a subscription based service. Our app is not going to be attractive to everyone; it requires a specific type of individual who understands the value of improving oneself by attaining new skills and abilities. Most people would rather teach than be taught. Our app is for people who want to do both. People who value the learning process and tutelage of having a mentor but also have valuable skillsets that they have experienced success with and want to share that information with others. Gatekeeping is very commonplace in the business world, so we wanted to create an ecosystem where people happily disseminate information across different races, socioeconomic classes, and education levels.

We are grateful for the rare occurrences where we get to connect with people off the app and that’s why we created our own events such as our Mini Career Fairs: Half Hour Hustle and our Mentor Matchmaking events. Even though these events are virtual, these smaller, boutique experiences give people the opportunity to really get to know each other on a more intimate level. Don’t get us wrong, Investfest is great for networking if you want to expand your reach and create more visibility for your brand and your business. But if you are looking to really connect with other like-minded professionals, then our events may be an opportunity you want to take advantage of. We have our next mini career fair today, August 25th at 1:30 PM ET, if you are interested in joining.

As a business owner, attending networking events is a must. If our events are not your speed, consider searching on Eventbrite or Luma for events that are more catered to your interests. Start off with virtual events since they tend to be more low-pressure, especially for introverts, and then work your way up to in-person networking. But you have to put yourself out there. Networking is the only way you will gain and develop long-lasting relationships in business.

To this day, we are still connected to the majority of folks we met at Investfest in 2025. We are very much open to returning to Investfest another year to create new relationships because we see the value in what the founders, Rashad and Troy, are attempting to build. There are also some other expos we have our eye on that we will share with you once the details are finalized.
See you out here in these business streets!