A Day in the Life of a FORT Entrepreneur: Flourish

What sparked your passion for starting Flourish?

Growing up serving refugees overseas instilled in me a desire to serve others at a young age. In college, I pursued a career in finance, but at the end of my work day, I had a deeper longing. This longing was driven by a desire to serve others through business. Now I have the opportunity to help put more capital into the nonprofit space which is serving more people than I ever would be able to do by myself.

What has been the biggest and most surprising obstacle you’ve had to overcome as an entrepreneur?

Being an effective boss has been an obstacle for me to overcome. I have always been a natural leader, but in startups, things change so quickly and we have to adapt. Something I have had to learn is the importance of being able to give meaningful work to my team and make sure each employee is motivated.

What does a typical day at Flourish look like for you?

There is no typical day at Flourish – things are always in flux and we are working a variety of new projects and offerings. We have a team in Philadelphia focused on tech development and marketing campaigns and a sales focused team in Waco.

If you could describe your company in three words or phrases, what would they be?

Pocket change for global change.

What was your latest win?

Recently, we closed a financing deal with an investor who is also well connected in the nonprofit industry. Smart money was achieved in this round of funding.

What do you like best about being part of the RTI FORT cohort?

The RTI Fort cohort provides resources and learning content that is valuable for each entrepreneur to implement at the onset of their business. Having a community of like-minded entrepreneurs is important when the odds of success are stacked against you.  The FORT has provided ample learning materials that are critical for startup entrepreneurs to know and implement into their companies.

Part of being a FORT member is giving back to the community. How have you given back?

One way that Flourish gives back is by being involved with other local nonprofits. Our team partners with local nonprofits to support their fundraising efforts. We actively take time during the work week to read with elementary students and attend events of the many nonprofits we are involved with.

Find out more about Flourish on their website: https://www.flourishchange.com/

Want to participate in a program that meets you where you are and helps you take your small business to the next level?  Our FORT initiative, designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, will inspire and empower you to do just that.  Be on the lookout for FORT applications opening April 1st.

Written by

Nicolette Nelson