Honoring AMP UP! Charlotte Program 10 Graduates
Since 2018, Growmetix® has had the privilege of working alongside the City of Charlotte to cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. We have served as the facilitation partner for AMP UP! Charlotte, the city’s business accelerator program which helps growing businesses scale.
It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating our 10th cohort. And, the 2025 July Graduating Class is nothing short of extraordinary. The stories behind their companies are what make this work so special.
We want to take a moment to shine a light on a few of the incredible entrepreneurs who just completed the program:
- Tehetina Tedla owns and manages Enat Ethiopian Restaurant, which serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine. We saw Tina’s commitment to her craft and her community flourish, despite a significant personal loss during the seven months of the program. Her dedication is a perfect example of the grit and perseverance we see every day.
- Dr. Kareem Puranda is a former police officer whose company, Self-Talk Counseling provides mental health services to first responders and at-risk youth. For Dr. Puranda, this is not just a business—it’s a calling, and his work embodies the power of entrepreneurship as a force for good.
- We also watched Yessenia Cordero of Universal Solutions Contracting apply lessons around strategy and planning to scale her Property Management firm; proving that with the right tools, any company can reach new heights.
These are just a few examples from a class of fourteen (14) phenomenal individuals who dedicated themselves, to the rigorous Interise StreetWise “MBA” curriculum. You can find the full list of 2025 Summer Graduates in the official City of Charlotte article.
Our role as a training facilitator for AMP UP! Charlotte goes beyond teaching a curriculum. It’s about empowering growing business owners with the confidence to navigate what’s next. As entrepreneurs ourselves, our team (including this year’s Lead Facilitator Nia McAdoo) has walked a similar path to those we serve. We believe these lived experiences are one of our greatest differentiators.
To every alumnus, we extend our deepest congratulations!
This graduation is a powerful testament to your hard work and to the success of AMP UP! Charlotte. The team at Growmetix® is honored to have played a role in the growth and development of the Queen City’s next generation of business leaders. And, here’s to our continued partnership with the City of Charlotte.
For more information on how Growmetix® can help your organization design or deliver business coaching and learning experiences that inspire leaders and teams to embrace new ways of working, please CONTACT US.
