Six weeks ago I started one of my most rewarding professional endeavors to date. I applied for and was accepted into the BizSprint Summer 2017 Cohort. BizSprint is an Arrowhead Accelerator program to launch successful businesses. The goal of this program is to accelerate New Mexico startups to drive economic growth. It is a program based off of the National I-corps program. I had to submit an application pitching my new business startup idea, which was then followed by an interview by Arrowhead staff to see if my business and I were right for the program.
My idea is simple but addresses a problem that I have recently encountered as a new dog owner, fashionable clothing and accessories for pups! As I mentioned in my previous post I am a thrifter. I wanted to take amazing finds from the thrift store and up-cycle them into pup-wear. I was accepted into the program with this idea and I have spent the past four weeks taking weekly classes, conducting interviews, and making presentations to refine my business to make it a successful one, with the help of my Technical Lead, Mallory and Business Mentor, Colleen.
Week 1
The first workshop was devoted to reading class materials, establishing a business thesis with my team, and presenting this information to the cohort with a presentation. During the workshop we learned how to conduct interviews with customers and leaders in our field.
Week 2
During the second workshop, we presented our initial findings from our interviews and refined our business thesis. The interviews helped immensely with conceptualizing an end product. I was able to interview business leaders in the area as well and devoted pet parents.
Week 3
Interviews dominated this week and I was able to attend a local Yappy Hour to interview even more subjects. This proved very rewarding as my new friends and interviewees were more than happy to speak to me about their favorite past time, DOGS!
Week 4
The final week of BizSprint was the hardest. I had to interview the last of my thirty participants and create a final showstopper presentation and video. Both were summaries of things learned and the hopeful journey forward. I can confidently write that my business is a go. I will be launching Label Hound in this fall.
Label Hound is a pet fashion label focusing on pet accessories made from up-cycled vintage and designer thrift store finds devoted to fashionable styles at affordable prices, while not contributing to clothing manufacturing waste.
I will keep the blog and my social media channels up to date on the future launch of Label Hound and hope you can join me in making your pet a Label Hound.
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