Six months later, COSE caught up with the season 6 semifinalists. 

 

In December, 18 entrepreneurs pitched their small businesses to judges from Medical Mutual, Minutemen Family of Companies, MAGNET, JumpStart and COSE. Saidah Farrell, owner of Marshmallow of the Month Club took home the $40,000 first place prize, Jeff Jones of It's a Wrap took home $20,000 for second and Abbie Swisher, owner of Crochet Kitty, took $10,000 for third place. The remaining 15 semifinalists received $1,250 grants. 

It's been six months since the semifinalists pitched their businesses. Let's check out the Chain Reaction it caused. 

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It’s a Wrap LLC, a servicer of vinyl vehicle wraps, was named the second-place Cleveland Chain Reaction winner and received $20,000. Based in Valley View, the company founded by Jeffrey Jones specializes in vehicle wraps, custom  vinyl graphics, storefronts and murals.

“It’s an honor,” said Jones of placing second. “This will provide us with a much-needed infusion of cash.” His future plans include starting an academy to teach the skill of car-wrapping.

Contact: itsawrapllc.com

Yum Village is a fast-casual Afro-Caribbean restaurant that serves chef prepared meals at affordable rates – “available to every village” – at its location near Cleveland State and as a caterer. 

“What drives me is making me people happy,” says owner Carasai Itentuge, a native of Nigeria, "You can't find food like this anywhere in the world."

Contact: yumvillage.com

Crochet Kitty, a safety conscious cat toy brand, placed third in Cleveland Chain Reaction. The creative headquarters in Parma also serves as a donation hub where people can donate food, toys and litter for cats in the area.

"I love coming up with the next cat toy," said owner Abbie Swisher, "Once the toy is made and customers start buying it and come back and start giving us feedback on it – that's the greatest, most rewarding part of this business."

Contact: crochetkitty.com

Owned by Paula Stewart, Mixology Incorporated is a mobile bartending and event company specializing in craft cocktails and signature drinks. Since Chain Reaction, Remy Martin began sponsoring the company's cocktail making classes and providing kits for students.

"We thought December was going to be very slow, and it ended up being very busy," Stewart says, "because we were on TV and we were on Chain Reaction, it ended up being a very good month for us."

Contact: mixologyincorporated.llc

Marissa Wilson is the owner of Capsoul – a luggage brand that combines functionality with fashion. Completely sold out of the original bag the Capsoul pack, Wilson's company is evolving.

"I originally was getting the backpacks made overseas, but they are now being made right here in Cleveland," she says. "It allows us to be more flexible...It's a better path to profitability."

Contact: capsoulco.com

LaJAshley offers all natural, vegan beauty products that you can make yourself.  CEO Laura Manning says her scientific approach to beauty helps pique kids' interest in chemistry.

"I've been going into different schools and doing workshops with kids," she says, "teaching them that all natural products are available and that they can make them."

Contact: www.lajashley.com

Chris Harvan and his wife founded Aril Memorial in 2012. Through handcrafted cremation urns, the company brings art, design and craft to remembrance.

"[Chain Reaction] caused me to come up with a plan that was going to allow us to grow this next year," Harvan says. "And specifically in other product lines that aren't necessarily cremation urn-focused with some partners in the funeral industry that do some things that are cremation adjacent."

Contact: aril.memorial.com

Saidah Farrell, owner of Marshmallow of the Month Club, took home the $40,000 first-place prize. The business specializes in artisan marshmallows and gourmet hot chocolate experiences and uses a fish-based gelatin over a pork-based gelatin to allow for more people to enjoy the sweets. Since Chain Reaction, Farrell has been able to move into her own production space and update her packaging. 

“We’re working on a new line of cocoas, which is going to be a Joy craft mocha line and a Joy craft matcha line,” she says.

Contact: marshmallowofthemonthclub.com

 

2 You Wines is a boutique winery offering fine wines, wine gift baskets, candles and slushies. Owner Nakia Hudson said one of her main goals, prior to Chain Reaction, was to offer smaller bottles of wine that equal just six ounces for one drink. 

"If you don't want to drink a full bottle, you can just crack that open and you can drink one whenever you feel like it," Hudson says. "We are in the process of getting labels approved."

Contact: 2youwines.com

Darmisha Alphabet is the owner of The Touch of Teele’s Cleaning and Detail. The company, which specializes in residential and janitorial services, is completely operated by Alphabet’s family. Since Chain Reaction, they have started contracting with the City of Cleveland.

 “Beginning in June, Alphabet Trucking will be starting,” Alphabet says. “We’ll be rolling out our trucking company with the City of Cleveland.”

 Contact: (216) 333-7926 or teelesmanagement@gmail.com

Michelle Person founded Just Like Me Presents to make learning more engaging and culturally applicable for kids.

Since Chain Reaction, Just Like Me Presents has created a ‘Young Engineers Bricks Challenge.’ Similar to Legos, students are tasked with assembling a fidget spinner as they learn about the physics and mechanics behind the fun toy.

Person has contracts in the works with afterschool programs to continue bringing her products to students across Greater Cleveland.

“We want to support [students] so that they’re getting the most robust learning experience possible,” she says. 

Contact: justlikemepresents.com

Formerly Carmella Marie Inc., Carmella Marie's business has evolved into a Deep Roots – a natural, fresh-pressed juice company focused on healthy ingredients. When you juice, Marie says, your body has a better chance of getting nutrients directly because they can get past stomach acids.

"If I can get you to eat more beats to improve your heart health, and more watermelon, and more carrots and more cucumber and kale," she says, "and it tastes good all at the same time, I am helping one more person get closer to perhaps having better heart health or better stamina."

Marie is gearing up to start doing wholesale in Northeast Ohio and beyond. 

Contact: carmellamarie.com/pages/deep-roots-self-care-co

Located on the west bank of the Flats, Joshua Allen's company, Great Lakes Watersports, offers unique and exciting ways to explore the city. With kayak, boat and jet ski rentals, Great Lakes Watersports offers fun on the water for the whole family.

This is only the beginning for Allen's aquatic endeavors. 

"We're looking into another number of things," he says, "parasailing, outdoor venue. We're looking into a lot of things for the future."

Contact: glwatersports.com