​
Ashley Scott, recognized as a Forbes Under 30 Scholar, completed a bachelors in public health and an MBA, and works as a data analyst at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Ashley sought to build on this dynamic experience, and launched a business focusing on a gap in the market place for customized organic skin care products for African American and Latino women. And to build the business on the right path, she entered the New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition hosted by the NY Public Library.
To prepare for the competition Ms. Scott met with Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Advisor Sandra Cely, who provided feedback on her business plan and helped the client develop financial projections and start-up costs for the new venture, as well as secure key skin care market data through the NYSBDC Research Network. Following these efforts the client was recognized with an Honorable Mention among the ten competition finalists.
To build on this experience, Sandra enrolled the client in the New York Small Business Development Center Pitch Workshop Series & Competition to help her describe her business most effectively during networking and prospecting activities, and provided a great deal of feedback and guidance on practice runs of her pitch. With this assistance Ms Scott won first prize in the competition in front of a panel of judges, as well as a $2,000 cash award which will help her cover marketing initiatives, launching the website and product formulation.