Innovation Labs Hold On-Campus Intensive for Impact Teams

Innovation Labs fostering holistic empowerment to unlock enduring solutions to complex challenges

Belmont's Innovation Labs is pioneering a bold new approach to empowering "Agents of Hope" to tackle complex global challenges. Through their Impact Teams initiative, they are providing a comprehensive support system for promising social entrepreneurs driving transformative change. 

June 10-11, the Innovation Labs hosted four remarkable venture founders on campus for an intensive two-day experience. These visionary leaders, handpicked from partnerships with Compassion International and local nonprofit Corner to Corner, are the first cohort of the Impact Teams receiving year-long mentorship and resources convened by Belmont. 

Each of the founders received $5,000 in seed capital from Innovation Labs and were matched with teams of mentors, including a relationship manager, business mentor, personal coach and specialty advisors.  

The entrepreneurs and their innovative ventures are: 

Compassion International Alumni: 

• Jey Mbiro, Founder of Sauti Village (Kenya) - Equipping youth to break the cycle of poverty through mentorship  
  
  
• Maureen Kaderi, Executive Director of Rehema House (Kenya) - Rescuing pregnant teens and babies from crisis situations 

Corner to Corner Alumnae: 

• Kayla Hall, Founder of The City Juicery (Nashville) - Pioneering urban wellness through accessible cold-pressed juices 
  
  
• Ashley Broadnax, Founder of Crowns Up Learning (Nashville) - Creating inclusive education materials featuring representation of Black, Brown and disabled individuals 

The intensive included a morning breakfast session for campus partners to learn more about the entrepreneurs’ catalyzing stories. 

“Growing up in poverty, I was bitter and angry with people and with God. But God changed my story by bringing Compassion in my life and saving me from being a statistic of poverty and the slums,” shared Kaderi. "There is power in holding other people's hands...I am a world changer because people invested in me. Today I am holding others' hands as it was done for me." 

The founders then dove into workshops and consultations led by experts from groups like JoyCorps, SEED and Weber Group. Sessions covered strategies for effective governance, fundraising, human-centered design, customer analysis and financial sustainability. 

The innovators will spend the next year applying these learnings with ongoing mentorship. For example, Mbiro will be mentored by Belmont Associate Professor Dr. Bernard Turner, director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship. By facilitating connections to expertise, capital and community, Innovation Labs is unleashing these inspiring changemakers' full potential. 

"We equip individuals and organizations to design, develop and deploy collaborative responses to complex human challenges," explained Executive Director of the Innovation Labs Dr. Josh Yates. "The three words we're beginning to use a lot are: childhoods, livelihoods and neighborhoods, and exploring how all of those interconnect with each other. You can see from our Impact Teams and their champions that those are all very much present in our work. Impact Teams unlock the deep solutions we need so badly in our world by providing a full circle of support." 

As this pioneering cohort's yearlong journey progresses, Belmont's Innovation Labs is lighting a path for other "Agents of Hope" to follow.   

"We don't lack inspiration after spending time with these folks," expressed Cate McLeane, director of external partnerships and strategic communication. "They’re all looking to grow and scale, so if any of their ventures connect with your work or passions, please generously offer your advice, talents, gifts and connections - they want as many people involved as possible."