Contact Saida Cornejo Zuñiga to learn more: [email protected]
The 2025 WEPOWER Business Accelerator is a 12-week entrepreneurship development program for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs across all industries, especially those that create living wage jobs. If you want to grow a thriving business in St. Louis and be apart of an amazing community of leaders, this program is for you!
Who is WEPOWER?
WEPOWER activates and supports business and community leaders to take action to make St. Louis’s economy and education systems better. Nearly 500 WEPOWER alumni—business and community leaders—have achieved big wins that impact thousands of educators and children and scaled businesses that positively support our economy and create living wage jobs.
*To view the St Louis Construction Industry Business Assistance Accelerator, go here instead. To view previous cohorts, go here.
2025 Cohort
Alex Peterson
AP Embroidery By Yours Truly
AP Embroidery By Yours Truly is a creative embroidery business specializing in custom apparel, patches, applique, traditional embroidery, and monogramming. Our mission is to bring Visions to life one stitch at a time.
Alexander Scott
Alex Don Media Group
Alex Don Media Group is a digital content agency that helps businesses and brands grow through strategic photo and video marketing. We create high-impact content designed to boost brand awareness, attract leads, and convert viewers into customers. Every asset is built to drive measurable results from content planning to production.
Angelica Clay
Undefined Beauty Lounge
Undefined Beauty Lounge is a one-stop-shop beauty studio offering private suites and community spaces for beauty professionals at every stage of their journey. We provide both booth rentals and commission-based options to support flexibility and growth. Our mission is to offer a space to work and empower professionals with the tools and knowledge to build sustainable, long-lasting businesses.
Angelise Capraro
Honey’s
Honey’s is a cozy, creative restaurant known for its seasonal baked goods, custom cakes, and rotating menus that keep every visit fresh and exciting. We offer catering for events, personalized desserts, and hands-on baking instruction for aspiring chefs. At Honey’s, we’re all about community, quality, and making every bite unforgettable.
Arion Castillo
Another Me, LLC
Another Me, LLC is a productivity and career development company that empowers individuals to take control of their time, goals, and personal growth through innovative tools, coaching, and systems. We offer a signature planner line, curated lifestyle products, personalized coaching, and training experiences rooted in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Our mission is to make success feel achievable and sustainable for everyday people, providing real support for real life.
Ashley Morgan
Whip It Goods Skincare
Whip It Goods Skincare is a plant-based skincare company combining clean beauty with hands-on customer experiences. We create high-quality, small-batch products using 10 or fewer ingredients, and our experiential retail model — offering interactive skincare workshops — transforms how people shop and connect with skincare.
Charity Snider
The Good Life Candle Co.
The Good Life Candle Co. is a luxury home fragrance brand that creates clean, handcrafted candles and other home fragrance products designed to help people relax and unwind. Rooted in wellness and intentional living, each product blends high-quality ingredients with comforting, memorable scents.
Charlene McDaniel
Lit Life Creations
Lit Life Creations is a wellness brand dedicated to creating products that inspire peace, self-reflection, and personal growth. We offer meditation candles, incense, and spiritual tools, each crafted with intention to enhance your journey toward balance and tranquility. Our products and services empower individuals to nurture their mind, body, and spirit in their pursuit of well-being.
Cherelle Marshall
Expressions 4 U Yoga + Wellness
Expressions 4 U Yoga + Wellness is a holistic sanctuary for those seeking mind-body-spirit alignment. We offer personalized wellness services—including yoga, massage therapy, spiritual coaching, and energy healing—designed to nourish, empower, and restore. Our mission is to help you come home to yourself through intentional care, soulful practices, and supportive community.
Greg Walton
Legendary Services CO LLC
Legendary Services Co. is a Black-owned, full-service property management and construction company that serves homeowners, commercial property owners, and real estate investors. Services range from maintenance and remodeling to full renovations and tenant turnovers. Known for professionalism and efficiency, the company prioritizes clear communication and high-quality work across all project sizes.
Jessica Ann Cross
MBE & WBE Certified LLC
MBE & WBE Certified LLC is a thriving woman- and minority-owned general contracting firm in St. Louis that specializes in finishing trades like painting and flooring and services like demolition and cleanup. Under Jessica Cross’ leadership, the company has grown into a seven-figure business, with a bold vision to become one of the nation's largest self-made African American and woman-owned firms. Deeply committed to equity and community, Cross actively advocates for women in construction, supports local schools, and leads rebuilding efforts after local tragedies and disasters.
Juanakee Sykes
90 Degree Construction LLC
90 Degree Construction LLC is a licensed, insured carpentry company run by a husband-and-wife team passionate about building and community. The founder, a nationally recognized Black woman carpenter, also leads Black Girls Build Inc., a nonprofit that teaches women and youth hands-on construction skills through jobsite mentorship. Their joyful, nontraditional work environment prioritizes safety, positivity, and inclusivity, setting them apart from typical industry norms.
Kacie Smart
Smart Counseling Solutions
Smart Counseling Solutions inspires intentional wellness for individuals and organizations through curated spaces for reflection, connection, learning, and growth. Using a blend of psychological insight and strategic consulting, I bring my 15+ years of experience in the helping profession to provide customized personal and professional development sessions that enhance self-awareness, drive growth, and empower.
Keshia Hair
The Workroom Consulting Group LLC
The Workroom Consulting Group LLC helps businesses and nonprofits prepare for growth and sustainability through our organizational development, infrastructure consulting, and fractional services offerings.
Leslie Hernandez
Mama Pacha Sabor
Mama Pacha Sabor offers traditional spice blends used in traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. It is crafted with natural ingredients and a focus on healthy, salt- and artificial-additive-free food. Born from a desire to support the local community, the business is committed to sharing flavorful traditions and giving back to the community.
Luis Bautista
Green & Happy Lawn Service LLC
Green & Happy Lawn Service LLC is a St. Louis-based lawn maintenance company providing reliable, high-quality residential and commercial property services.
Marc Owens
MO's Pest Control LLC
MO's Pest Control LLC is a black-owned business located in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. We also service clients throughout St. Louis City and the surrounding St. Louis County areas.
Mario Miller
Tough Enough Construction
Tough Enough Construction is a family-owned company with over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Our team is comprised of skilled and experienced roofers and masons who are dedicated to providing top-notch masonry services to clients in Missouri and Illinois. We specialize in both roofing and masonry, ensuring high-quality workmanship in every project we undertake.
Markia Holt
Ms. Digital on Demand
Ms. Digital on Demand is where strategy meets storytelling. We offer social media management and content creation for businesses and individuals who want to show up online with intention and impact.
Melandie Tuckson
Ann's Roots Microgreens Farm
Ann's Roots is an indoor urban farm that produces and delivers a wide variety of microgreens to the Saint Louis community at local markets, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Melisa Sanders
BlackArc
BlackArc is a woman-led, Black-owned architecture and urban design firm based in St. Louis, MO. We specialize in community-centered design that advances racial equity, cultural preservation, and neighborhood resilience in historically disinvested communities. Through collaborative processes and deep engagement, we co-create spaces WITH communities, not FOR them.
Rafaela Andrade
uku llc
We create timeless ponchos and capes handcrafted by women in Ecuador, supporting fair jobs and economic independence. Each piece blends tradition and modern design with ethical, cruelty-free materials. Our mission is to empower women and promote conscious fashion.
Sergio Amores
Sergio’s Landscaping, LLC
Sergio’s Landscaping, LLC specializes in landscaping and lawn care services. We pride ourselves on our quality of work, and the relationships we build with our clients are one of the most critical aspects of our business and what sets us apart.
Stephen Perkins
AIM Steam Products
AIM Steam Products is a Black-owned business creating children’s books that inspire and uplift through stories rooted in Black urban America. To enhance learning, we provide supporting activities, lesson plans, and educational products that immerse readers in the stories we craft. Our mission is to empower and educate through representation and engaging storytelling.
Toleta Thomas
Formation Salon and Spa
Formation Salon and Spa is a full-service salon and spa for women, men, and children. We offer an infinite array of service possibilities and specialize in problem-solving. We fill the gap within the industry while providing excellent customer service. The right salon experience can transform someone's life, and we aim to be the solution.
Vanita Thompson
The Thompson Rose Agency
The Thompson Rose Agency empowers businesses with effective digital marketing tools, programming, and strategies to achieve their marketing goals and stay ahead in the competitive landscape. We also provide support services for creatives.
Accelerator Benefits
- Workshops + 1:1 Coaching: bi-weekly one-on-one business coaching and weekly workshops and trainings
- In-kind Professional Services: accounting, marketing, and other technical services
- Access to capital: access to a $5,000 equity-free grant, a wellness stipend, and introductions to other capital providers
- Connections + Support: connections to mentors and introductions to other potential champions of you and your business
2024 Alum
Asha Hornaday
The Modern School of Manners
The Modern School of Manners is an etiquette school that focuses on children, teens, and adults.
Candace Anthony
The Ellis Agency
The Ellis Agency is a mental health agency centering on clinician experience. They provide guidance and resources to support the personal and professional goals of mental health clinicians, promoting sustainability and preventing burnout.
LaParis Hawkins
Tailored Pieces
Tailored Pieces is a lifestyle brand best known for its handmade luxury satin bonnets.
Dr. Natalie King
Florae Beauty
Florae is a personalizable hair wellness brand that offers clean, plant-powered, scientist-crafted formulas that truly care for your hair as thoughtfully as you do.
SoJohna Bell
Ryze Manufacturing and Logistics
Ryze is a private-label haircare and skincare product development company specializing in natural and organic products for beauty professionals and entrepreneurs.
Adjo Honsou
FUFU n’ Sauce
FUFU n’ Sauce tackles food diversity in St. Louis by bringing authentic West African cuisine to all neighborhoods via their food truck. They bridge cultural gaps, offering a direct link to African ancestry. Food is more than sustenance; it's a vehicle for cultural exchange, nourishing both body and spirit and fostering community belonging.
Javia Gilliam - Sanford
Pour Decisions STL
Pour Decisions STL redefines the bar experience with premium mobile services, offering top-tier alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails alongside quality hard goods. Founded in 2020 by Sommelier Javia Gilliam-Sanford and Kaje Sanford, they elevate mixology in St. Louis by creating inclusive, unforgettable experiences that unite diverse communities.
Brock Seals
Art by Seals
Art by Seals LLC specializes in a wide range of creative services, including painting, graphic design, shoe customization, murals, and music. The business brings imaginative ideas to life across multiple mediums, blending artistry with innovation.
Juan Carlos & Brunella Orlandini
Magic Cleaning
Magic Cleaning, founded by a family of immigrants, is a family-focused cleaning company in St. Louis. They pride themselves on delivering reliable, thorough, and personalized cleaning services rooted in their values of hard work, trust, and community. Their commitment has allowed them to grow organically, building lasting client relationships.
Tashara Earl
Shades of Color
Shades of Color creates equitable access to beauty products by connecting Black shoppers to Black beauty brands. Their personalized shopping experience helps shoppers discover beauty brands with products for their skin tone, culture, and lifestyle. Their platform serves as a pipeline to rapidly increase the 2.5% of Black Beauty Brands in the market to support the growing demand of 11.1% of Black shoppers.
Fall '22 Alum
Jamila Boone
Jamila Boone owns Scene Event Space, a premier multi-functional private event space for your diverse social entertainment & corporate opportunities. Scene offers you over 2000 square feet of raw canvas, with fabulous details, allowing you to bring your event vision to life.
Jianna Fernandez
Jianna Fernandez owns Stride Therapy and Wellness, a mobile pediatric practice providing home and community based Occupational, Speech, and Physical therapies to children and families within the St. Louis area. Jianna was inspired to found Stride Therapy to increase access and ensure the provision of quality services to children and families from all walks of life.
Shaunessi Tucker
Shaunessi Tucker owns Skin Deep Hygienic Care, who formulates all natural hygiene and skin care products that are handmade and free of any toxic chemicals linked to cancer. Having developed a unique 3 step detoxifying system to help others transition to a healthier deodorant she is hoping to help fight cancer and educate the community on cleaner alternatives one stick of deodorant at a time.
Alberto Tello
Alberto Tello owns Precise, a construction firm providing a range of services and materials for siding, roofing, and remodeling. Precise conducts both commercial and residential projects.
Deborah James
Deborah James owns Freddie Lee’s Gourmet Sauces, a small batch food company that manufactures all-purpose gourmet sauces and co-packs sauces and dressings for other small businesses.
Contact Saida Cornejo Zuñiga to learn more: [email protected]