Founders
Kody Young
CEO / Co-Founder of bGenius. We are engineering a product that will change the way we communicate forever! Our product, Transverb, is a real-time translation application that allows people and teams to collaborate - each in their own language!
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Jamal Carter
HVNGRY LLC is all about innovations and discovery by providing products and experiences for the youth. HVNGRY was founded by University of Mary Baldwin student Jamal Carter in October 2019. Its original name was Never Starve Again (N$A). Initially, the company was supposed to be a public benefit corporation. Its goal was to give back to the less fortunate in low poor income communities. However, in 2020 it transitioned to be an LLC (limited liability corporation). The acronym further breaks down the brand so there is a distinct meaning behind it, Humility, Vnfolds, Nonchalant, Gleeful, Relentless, Youngins (HVNGRY) . Being inspired by Malike Jarret, the owner of EAT (ELEVATE ALL THE TIME) he wanted to leave his own mark on my city.
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Saria Hawkins-Banda
Saria Hawkins-Banda is the Founder & CEO of Manifest Your Purpose, a luxury stationery and lifestyle brand creating experiences, products, and conversations that ignite confidence, intention, and cultural pride. Through transformative workshops, purpose-driven corporate gifting, and community-centered events, she has become known for helping women move from vision to execution while taking up space unapologetically. Her work sits at the intersection of culture, motivation, and meaningful design, making her a sought-after voice for organizations committed to creating authentic impact and connection. Her partnerships include Fortune 500 companies such as Goldman Sachs, PayPal, PepsiCo, and Block , along with dozens of other universities and organizations across the country that trust her to deliver elevated experiences that resonate deeply and leave a lasting impression. In addition to her work as a founder and entrepreneur, Saria is an internationally recognized speaker who has led workshops and spoken on stages around the world. Known for her authentic storytelling, sharp insight, and magnetic presence, she has a unique ability to make audiences feel both challenged and deeply seen. Whether speaking to executives, entrepreneurs, students, or creatives, Saria’s work is rooted in one mission: helping women turn vision into reality by building lives with intention, clarity, and impact.
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Darcell Edwards
Darcell currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Blink Social. Originally from Los Angeles. CA, Darcell graduated from Howard University in 2017, with a B.B.A degree in Business Management.
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Stephanie Smith
Stephanie has over 11 years of media buying experience in digital advertising. This Georgia Tech grad has managed over $100 million throughout her career working with everyone from Fortune 500 brands to startup companies. Stephanie has a passion for paying it forward by teaching other entrepreneurs and business owners how to manage their own ads correctly. She teaches classes and hosts workshops at notable institutions, startup accelerators and conferences.
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Melissa Pearson
Melissa Pearson is the CEO and Principal Designer of Pearson Rue Designs LLC. Melissa has a B.S in Interior Design and a certificate in Gerontology from Kansas State University. Melissa has worked in the healthcare design industry for over 4 years. After becoming a mother to a child with special needs, she realized the need for inclusive design services for this population. Pearson Rue Designs will provide inclusive designs for all people including those with special needs and older adults who want to remain in their home and live independently (age in place).
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Monica Higgins
Growing up, Monica helped her parents manage and renovate distressed income properties. She also witnessed her mother get ripped off big time by a shady contractor…something no homeowner should ever have to experience. That horrific ordeal inspired her to become a construction manager and write , “Remodel Success”, which has been ranked in the Top 5% of over 8 million books sold on Amazon. Garagify is a tech-enabled, end-to-end design and build partner. Garagify's proptech software is the TurboTax for zoning laws, helping older homeowners navigate architecture, permitting, and city codes…no zoning or architecture experience required, so they can secure their financial futures with backyard home.
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The Muted Home
Camilla Banks is the owner and founder of The MUTED Home. A collective of luxury and stated home decor in Atlanta, GA. The Muted Home is our collective vision of luxury home decor products meant to enhance every area of your home. We are a family-run and operated business specializing in unique handcrafted luxury home goods. Our products are intended to inspire families to reimagine, reinvent & rediscover their homes. We bring Simple, Subtle & Stated touches from our family to yours.
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