From Penn State Berks
Pictured above is Berks LaunchBox, powered by Penn State, IMAGINE Your Business grant recipients. Top row, from left to right: Hilary Aponte-Chimelis, Adrian Heredia, and Amna and Syed Fahad Hussein. Bottom row, from left to right: Danielle Hettler, Nathan Tietbohl, Jenna Wolfe, and Alison Woo. Provided photo
The Berks LaunchBox, powered by Penn State, has announced seven recipients of its IMAGINE Your Business grant, designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs accelerate their business growth. The program awards up to $2,000 to assist startups with prototyping, marketing, product development, and other essential business expenses.
The IMAGINE Your Business grant program is made possible through the support of the County of Berks. This round of recipients represents a range of industries and services — from technology and mental health to landscape design and artisan goods — demonstrating the breadth of innovation within Berks County’s entrepreneurial community.
Wildcraft Landscapes LLC, founded by Nathan Tietbohl, designs, installs, and maintains ecologically grounded landscapes using native plants, rain gardens, and stormwater management solutions. Their mission is to blend natural beauty with environmental sustainability, creating thriving ecosystems that benefit both people and wildlife. The grant funds will be used to purchase drafting software for increased efficiency and future growth.
Alison Woo Designs, founded by Alison Woo, creates one-of-a-kind jewelry using semi-precious stones and fine metals to craft pieces the wearer can display on special occasions and every day. The brand focuses on sustainability and customization, helping clients express individuality through thoughtfully designed, timeless pieces. The grant funds will be leveraged for marketing and promotion.
LumiVillage, founded by Amna and Syed Fahad Hussein, is a community-powered app that helps community members connect to teach and learn everyday skills through one-on-one lessons and group classes. Built on trust and safety, with verified profiles, ratings, reviews, and background checks, LumiVillage makes it easy for students to find reliable local coaches and for instructors to feel confident in their students. Grant funds will support community launch events and digital marketing to attract coaches and students across Berks County.
On Brand Moments LLC, founded by Danielle Hettler, delivers personalized laser engraving on wood, metal, glass, and acrylic for gifts, to promote branding. Their services are offered through Shopify, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, BabyList, and live events. Their innovation lies in “just-in-time” customization on location, allowing real-time engraving at events, along with color engraving on metal and custom photo engraving. Grant funds will be leveraged to purchase needed equipment and supplies.
Emotional Compass, founded by Licensed Professional Counselor Hilary Aponte-Chimelis, provides trauma-informed, perinatal, and family therapy services. Aponte-Chimelis offers bilingual counseling for individuals, couples and families, focusing on holistic well-being and cultural connection during both in-person and virtual settings. Grant funding will be used for staff certification and technology upgrades for client scheduling systems.
Wolfe Counseling and Wellness LLC, founded by Licensed Professional Counselor Jenna Wolfe, provides evidence-based mental health treatment with a focus on building strong, trusting therapeutic relationships. By emphasizing high relational quality and personalized care, Wolfe Counseling creates a safe and supportive environment where clients can achieve meaningful emotional growth and healing. The grant funds will support software and hardware for updated virtual appointments.
KimonoMono, founded by Adrian Heredia, is a marketing and sales alignment agency that helps small- and mid-sized businesses turn brand clarity into measurable growth. They provide integrated services — brand positioning, digital presence and web strategy, lead-generation systems, and a proven five-step marketing and sales playbook — focused on removing silos between marketing and sales so businesses convert more qualified leads and scale sustainably. Grant funds will be leveraged for website upgrades and marketing collateral.
Applications for the next round of IMAGINE Your Business grants are now open. Interested applicants should complete a business model canvas and schedule a review meeting with Berks LaunchBox staff before submitting.
For more information on the “IMAGINE Your Business” grant and other initiatives, visit the Berks LaunchBox.
About the Berks LaunchBox
The mission of Berks LaunchBox, located in Suite 105 of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading, is to support economic development and entrepreneurship. An innovation hub of Penn State Berks, the LaunchBox connects local early-stage entrepreneurs to the support, resources, and facilities that they need to build sustainable and scalable businesses with a viable plan for growth. Services include assistance with prototyping, conducting market research, and connecting with advisers. Berks LaunchBox offers entrepreneurship workshops, a co-working space for startups, workshops focused on business development, a makerspace with 3D printers for prototyping, and special youth programs.
Berks LaunchBox is supported by Invent Penn State — a commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation, and student career success. For more information, visit berkslaunchbox.psu.edu.
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Source: bctv