WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO

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So I had the honor

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to participate in this year's launchpad at

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Dominican University.

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It's an annual launchpad that's presented to students

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as an opportunity to discuss your business pitch

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and have a chance to compete

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and possibly receive funding for your business idea.

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It's really like a mini shark tank

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because you present in front of judges your business idea,

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what your purpose is

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and what you hope to do with the support

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and funding from the competition.

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So you also interact with like-minded colleagues

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and you hear their ideas as well,

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and you really get to engage with the community

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and the business field in a different way.

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I would say. I discussed my haircare line,

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which is named Imani Origins,

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and the product

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that I particularly talked about is known as hair sauce.

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It's an all natural nourishing cleanser that I made

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with ingredients such as rosemary and avocado oil.

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It's very gentle and applicable to different hair types,

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and I'm excited to bring it to the market space.

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When it came to the business aspect

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and really preparing for that, Dominican really helped me

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through their collaborative support within the courses

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that I took and also, uh, really establishing a mission

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and how to present that to others,

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not just those within the business field,

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but really the general public

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and how to talk about a new product

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and bring it to an emerging market space.

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So I think the school really helped with that

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and figuring out just how to communicate those ideas.

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I think at most, I'm gonna take with me just the courage to

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put yourself out there

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and to bring something forward

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that really you're passionate about and

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'cause that's something Dominican helped instill.

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It's like to put your best foot forward

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and to just be, you know, a star.

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I, I suppose so I would've still gone for it,

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but the launchpad definitely helped.