Business & Tech

Winners of the City's Ideation Challenge Named

Cleveland Craft Connection and the We(e) Market each won the city's entrepreneurial initiative.

What do holistic parenting assistance and a craft–to-business organization both have in common?

Those are the two business concepts that were recently named the winners of the city’s recent Ideation Challenge.

Tara Tonsetic is the co-owner of Cleveland Craft Connection, along with partner Beth Gantz. “We thought we’d try it,” said Tonsetic.

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“I have 12 years of experience in events and marketing and always had a love for crafts,” Tonsetic said. “Beth has owned a craft store for years. We decided to team up and launched Cleveland Craft Connection, bringing crafts and business together.”

Ahmie Yeung, of the We(e) Market, was the other winner.

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“Our goal is to become a cooperatively-owned physical shop in Lakewood, offering products and services for those caring for wee ones in holistic  ways,” according to the website. “We promote “attachment parenting” behaviors and offer support for healthy adult-child bonding."

Startup Lakewood — a non-profit organization in Lakewood geared toward helping businesses get off the ground — hosted the third-annual Ideation Challenge at the University of Akron Lakewood branch.

“We all know people who have had ideas,” Bryce Sylvester, city planner, recently told Lakewood Patch. “This is the opportunity to take that first step. 

Those (especially) in the funding stage of a business were encouraged to apply.

“It’s really about allowing yourself to take the next step in your business plan,” said Sylvester. “Anyone can apply, but we also want to recognize the best Lakewood pitch.”

In addition to pitching their plan in front of a panel of judges; one of the winners will have lunch with Mayor Michael Summers; and be offered a full scholarship to the Bad Girl Ventures class at the University of Akron Lakewood branch.

“(The judges) said we had good chemistry and a good partnership and we have a really solid idea,” she said. “They also said we had a solid pitch.”

Look for the Cleveland Craft Connection around town, including at various pop-up shops.

The start-up is hosting a registration on Oct. 23. Those interested are encouraged to visit the website, punch in the promotional code “friend” and get a big discount.


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