The Polsky Center Welcomes the 2025 Market Navigator Cohort
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is welcoming the newest cohort of the Market Navigator program, a 10-week customer discovery and market insight initiative designed to help growth-stage B2C businesses accelerate their path to sustainable expansion.
Market Navigator equips entrepreneurs with advanced customer research techniques, data-driven decision-making skills, and growth strategies. Through in-person workshops, online modules, and one-on-one mentoring, participants gain the tools to conduct in-depth customer segmentation, identify new market opportunities, refine pricing strategies, and implement acquisition and retention plans.
“This program is about helping B2C businesses take their next big leap,” said Barbara Agyapong, program manager, Polsky Exchange. “This cohort brings together different types of businesses facing the same challenge: difficulty navigating target market segments and completing market research. This program will help them get the information and strategy needed to understand their customers, make informed decisions, and scale with confidence.”
The 2025 Market Navigator Cohort
This year’s cohort features a diverse group of entrepreneurs tackling challenges across industries — from wellness and food to arts, events, and financial services:
// Jamila Moore, Elite Ambition Law Firm, PLLC – Helping aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs legitimize, protect, and position their businesses for long-term success through legal guidance, compliance education, and strategic planning.
// C. Lynn Williams, CGWW Books LLC – Supporting overwhelmed, high-achieving mothers in rediscovering themselves, managing stress, and creating meaningful change through structured coaching and accountability.
// Brian D. Johnson, The CommonWealth Initiative – Providing holistic, trustworthy financial guidance that helps individuals, families, and small businesses build, protect, and transfer wealth.
// Alicia Brown, The Wick and Wine Experience – Bringing people together through self-guided candle-making workshops that spark creativity, connection, and relaxation.
// Shana O’Conners, Disrupt The Impossible – Empowering organizations and individuals to strengthen leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and communication for greater engagement and team performance.
// Dr. Airies Davis, etiKID Academy LLC – Offering culturally relevant life skills and etiquette education to youth from historically marginalized communities, preparing them for personal and professional success.
// Katy Osborn, Nowhere Collective – Creating a community-driven marketplace where artisans transform reclaimed household materials into sustainable, locally made products.
// Lynn Solar, Purple Crown Productions – Helping clients streamline event planning and achieve impactful results while minimizing costs.
// Tavia David, Cooperation Racine – Using cooperative economics and the arts to combat systemic inequities and develop resilient, creative entrepreneurs in underrepresented communities.
// Alexandria Alstork, Alstork’s Lil Bundles – Offering nostalgic, homemade-style poundcakes in convenient, portion-controlled mini loaves for busy, modern lifestyles.
// Tramayne Butler DeLong, PhD, AnthroSpa Logic, LLC – Simplifying self-care through holistic, effective wellness solutions.
// Veda Childress, Assuage Therapies – Providing science-backed, culturally rooted body care products to help Black women reduce chronic inflammation and stress.
// Kamaca Champion, Miss Purl – Helping individuals find a creative outlet for relaxation and connection through knitting and community engagement.
Click here for more information on the 2025 cohort. For more information on the Market Navigator program, email Barbara Agyapong at bagyapong@uchicago.edu.