“I would definitely recommend using the microgrant because again, I started very early on, so that was what really kind of got Python Pals going. And I feel it’s very important for anyone who’s making a business. I didn’t really think of Python Pals as a business as I was doing it but once you start, you’ll find there’s a lot of decisions you’ll need to make, and a lot of those decisions will involve money. Having the grant gave me the opportunity to have a cushion to fall back on and not be as afraid to try different methods of advertising. For example, I tried things like Google Ads, Facebook Ads and other marketing which I really didn’t know anything about marketing before I started Python Pals. The NEO High School Microgrant gave me the freedom to explore those different options because I knew I had that money with me. I also found that having the grant gave me more credibility. When I reached out to other people for other resources the fact that I had funding with me and I had the grant gave me more leverage. Parents were more willing to trust the program and send their kids. I was also able to use that funding to help my advertising and get more kids for the program. I definitely think it was very useful and I’m very grateful that they gave it so early.”

 

“The reason I applied for the microgrant was I was doing my sessions at the Hudson Library for the summer because WRA was not open at that time and I needed a projector. I was thinking of buying a projector. I emailed back and forth a few times and he kind of helped me. He researched some projectors for me and sent them back and gave me some other suggestions of what I could do with the funding. I found that super helpful. Later, we realized that once I started offering it at WRA the projector wouldn’t be the best use of the money so we started looking at other options and he guided me as I went through other resources and people I could go to.”

 

“The microgrant that I received opened up a lot of opportunities to me. At my school the word got out and a journalist of Cleveland Heights wrote a article about me and receiving the microgrant. The article got a lot of people’s attention and the same day the article came out my mom received a email asking would it be ok to give Robert Rosenthal (The owner of Xhibiton and Next the clothing store) our information. Minutes later she received a call from him telling her he wants to meet with us and see some of products and talk about some opportunities. We scheduled to meet with him days later and we talked for over and hour and half at his warehouse. We talked about me getting my own release at one of his locations, Nike campaigns, my plan for the future, how I started etc. Within the same week I received a call from one of his team members telling me I have a opportunity to be in Nike’s Air Max Day Campaign/Pop Up Shop.

These are some pictures from the campaign / pop up shop ! I am now in the process of finishing driving school to get my license, I plan to have it by the end of May. Once I receive my license, I plan to start looking for a studio to rent and work out of.”