Alexis Szewczyk sought a boost for her promising Vera Vara jewelry business, so in the spring, she enrolled in the Grand Canyon University Entrepreneur Training Program, which helps startup and small businesses while enhancing economic development.
The program, a Colangelo College of Business and city of Peoria partnership, aims to provide Vera Vara and other West Valley entrepreneurs with the knowledge and training essential to elevate their businesses.
“We’ve gained a lot of tools, a lot of resources,” Szewczyk said Thursday after three judges selected Vera Vara as winner of the $4,000 Great Value Award at the end of the Demo Day Peoria Entrepreneur Pitch Event at the Rio Vista Recreation Center. “But Professor (Robert) Vera is amazing, just the way he educates us and leads the way.”
The Demo Day event, which featured eight businesses, is part of the free initiative in which entrepreneurs attend 90-minute classes every Tuesday and Thursday in April, June, August and October that correspond with the innovation, pre-seed, seed and early state of their businesses.
“It’s been fantastic,” Peoria Deputy City Manager Mike Faust said of the participation and partnership with GCU. “The products and the pitches we saw are just one example of how to invest in the local community, how to invest in local entrepreneurs, and we’re very thankful to partner with GCU, and we’re thankful to have GCU’s presence in the West Valley, helping our local entrepreneurs find success.”
The pitches ranged from gluten-free foods tailored for bakeries; handcrafted personalized jewelry targeted for resorts; household services; handcrafted, vegan, gluten-free and dye-free chamoy; low-cost grants; portable sensory bins for children with sensory processing challenges; and treats for autoimmune disease and neurodiverse families and health-conscious consumers.
The pitches were similar to what student contestants present at GCU Demo Day and Canyon Challenge events – address a problem (accompanied by statistics), then present the solution with a financing proposal and occasional testimonies about the product’s effectiveness.
In the end, the judges – Phoenix Business Journal reporter Amy Edelen, National Bank of Arizona Vice President of Strategy Nick Kasten and GCU College of Doctoral Studies Assistant Dean Dr. Nicholas Markette – said they were impressed with Vera Vara’s foundation.
“Vera Vara’s business had legs,” Markette said. “They were already picking up momentum at the airport (as one of the airport shops) and are about to get their certification and be at other airports and other states. And we just thought that just set them apart.
“But it was very difficult because not only were there good business models, but they are really good human beings. And you felt connected to their stories. But Vera Vara had legs. They were getting momentum a little bit beyond everyone else.”
During Vera Vara’s presentation, Szewczyk said she sold out of merchandise two months after opening a shop at Sky Harbor International Airport and reached agreements to sell at six resorts and gift boutiques and produced the best-selling gift item at the Mayo Clinic gift shop.
She also plans to donate a portion of her proceeds from her handcrafted, hypoallergenic and Southwest-designed jewelry to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Szewczyk was inspired by her grandmother Vera, who produced macrame accessories in her hometown of Queens, N.Y., where she left an indelible mark because of her positive outlook.
“It all sinks in,” Szewczyk said of her grandmother’s influence.
“I've always loved to create jewelry, and this is something I'm meant to do.”
Spicy Sassy Inc., which produces chamoy and is targeting restaurants, bars, lounges and specialty coffee shops looking to expand their beverage options, won the People’s Choice Award and will receive a custom hat from Noggin Boss, founded by GCU alumnus Gabe Cooper.
For Vera Vara, this could be a springboard for bigger business. For Peoria, it’s “a great starting point,” Faust said. “I’m excited with what we see the first time through, and as people start to see that and see the social media presence and seeing people get sponsored and walking away winning pitch competitions and us investing in their businesses, I think we’ll see greater things in the future."
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at Mark.Gonzales@gcu.edu
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