Building a business is a lonely journey, says serial risk-taker; but access to resources can grow Black community, generational wealth

Editor’s note: SCORE is an advertiser with Startland News, though this report was produced independently by the nonprofit newsroom.

Forget the fluff, said Isaac Collins.

Kansas City’s SCORE Community Strategic Alliance (SCSA) is planning a KC Business Ecosystem for Black Entrepreneurs webinar that will leave attendees with constructive teachings that they can bring into today, tomorrow and each day until they reach their goals of building a business, shared Collins, who will serve as the event’s moderator. 

“SCORE does a good job of bringing a diverse cast of people who are actually going to add value to attendees in a practical way — versus all this hype up and motivation that doesn’t really serve the small business owners outside of the initial excitement,” said Collins, business coach and owner of three Yogurtini franchises across Kansas City. 

The KC Business Ecosystem for Black Entrepreneurs Zoom webinar is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16. A recording of the webinar and the PowerPoint presentation are expected to be emailed to all registrants, so Collins encouraged all those interested to sign up — regardless of whether they can participate in the live event.

Click here to register for SCORE’s Kansas City Business Ecosystem for Black Entrepreneurs webinar. 

With no shortage of “how to build a successful business” tips floating through entrepreneurship circles and on the internet, it’s difficult for individuals to narrow down on what’s truly important, Collins said. Wednesday’s event is intended to simplify that information in a clear and constructive manner. 

“It’s hard as hell to build a business; however, there is a tried-and-true formula. It’s a simple formula to success,” Collins explained. “The average business owner doesn’t have all the knowledge on how to build a dynamic business. The more readily available this information can be packaged, the more people can decipher and learn it.”

Collins will be joined by a panel of speakers — ranging in expertise from entrepreneurial mentoring to how to get financed. 

Panelists for Wednesday’s webinar include: Simone Curls, Prospect Business Association of Kansas City; Nia Richarson, KC BizCare; David Neal, Missouri Small Business Development Center; Dr. Donnetta Watson, Entrepreneurial Resource and Training Center; Brandon Calloway, G.I.F.T. (Generating Income for Tomorrow); and Shanee Kimber, UMB Bank. 

“A lot of these [panelists] are seasoned veterans who’ve been helping entrepreneurs and aspiring small businesses owners for several years,” Collins noted.

Isaac Collins, Yogurtini

As an entrepreneur who has been in the field for the past decade, Collins plans to share a portion of his own journey with attendees.

“I’ve failed a lot, and I’ve succeeded a lot,” he shared. “I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t; so [viewers] can get from me honesty, always, as well as simplicity in my message.” 

Click here to read more about Isaac Collins and his story.

More than 450 individuals have registered for the Business Ecosystem for KC Black Entrepreneurs webinar so far, Collins said — noting organizers are excited to reach and connect more community members to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“In school and in the Black community, there are certain narratives out there, such as building generational wealth and being financially free,” Collins noted. “We hear about these topics often, but there’s not a norm of how those things happen.

“The process of building a business is also a lonely one, but being part of a group is going to make it so individuals don’t get discouraged,” he continued. “They have someone to turn to who understands what they are trying to accomplish and to help them be consistent along their journey in actually building generational wealth.”

This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn