Four Birmingham Entrepreneurs Chosen to Receive Two Years of Funding and Mentoring through Bold Path Fellowship Program

MINNEAPOLIS—Four innovative Birmingham entrepreneurs have been chosen to each receive two years of funding and mentoring through the Bold Path Fellowship Program. The effort is designed to provide capital and support to under-resourced postsecondary education graduates seeking to start their own social-impact related business.

Bold Path Fellows each receive $120,000 in non-dilutive grant funding over two years. The grants are intended to substitute for early “family and friends” funding, which is often lacking for lower-income founders and critical to get their businesses off the ground. The effort, funded by the ECMC Group Education Impact Fund and ECMC Foundation, also provides the fellows with local mentors to offer guidance and advice.

“We created this program to support and cultivate Birmingham’s up-and-coming entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide opportunities for postsecondary graduates who need resources to bring their ideas to reality,” said Jessica Haselton, managing director at ECMC Foundation. “As with the first Bold Path Fellowship cohort, we have been incredibly impressed by the individuals that applied and the ideas that were brought forth, and look forward to supporting the fellows through the process of early-stage business development.”

This is the second Bold Path Fellowship award, which was initially launched in Birmingham in October 2024. Local economic development nonprofit Prosper is serving as a key strategic partner for the Fellowship and helping to bridge relationships with local postsecondary institutions, supporting organizations and community members in the area.

“Birmingham’s growing Bold Path Fellowship community shows what’s possible when local partners come together to support graduates who want to build businesses with impact,” said Britney McCoy, program manager for the Bold Path Fellowship. “With two cohorts and a strong partnership with Prosper, this work is helping shape an entrepreneurial ecosystem that we believe can serve as a model for other communities, and one that we hope delivers lasting benefits for Birmingham over the long term.”

The 2026 Birmingham Bold Path Fellows are:

• Aleah Robinson is the founder of Bossy CEO, a productivity brand designed to help purpose-driven individuals organize their goals, manage their time and execute their vision through intentional planning tools.
• Titus Moore is the founder of Moore’s Granola, a better-for-you snack brand producing clean, non-GMO, gluten-free granola bars designed to fuel active lifestyles.
• DeSean Motley founded Dmot Productions, a narrative film production company that creates professional film projects while training emerging filmmakers.
• Miles Underwood is developing Collective Good Health, a digital platform that rewards individuals for making healthier nutrition choices.

The 2025 Birmingham Bold Fellows were:

• Jevon Tatum founded of Essence Body Health, a sustainable wellness brand that uses natural ingredients to create eco-friendly products, with long-term goals to expand into community farming and AI-driven gardening services.
• Kym’Bria Green developed Sweet Spot for All, a subscription service for diabetics and their families, offering diabetic-friendly supplies, snacks, and tips, with the goal of the goal of making diabetes management more accessible.
• Stephanie Stewart co-founded Sweet as a Peach Design Studio to provide aspiring designers and local businesses in Birmingham with creative services, mentorship, and tools to foster growth and creativity in the design community.
• Myles Taylor developed Dosie, an innovative medication management solution that helps individuals manage complex medication regimens, while also strengthening family connections and contributing to Birmingham's healthcare innovation sector.

To learn more, visit www.boldpathfellowship.org.

About ECMC Group
ECMC Group is a nonprofit corporation focused on helping students succeed. Headquartered in Minneapolis, ECMC Group and its family of companies provide financial tools and services, as well as funding for innovative programs to help students achieve their academic and professional goals. To learn more, visit www.ecmcgroup.org.

About Education Impact Fund
The Education Impact Fund is a $250 million evergreen fund that aims to accelerate the transformation of America’s postsecondary and workforce ecosystem by investing in innovative companies and collaborating with institutions, employers and communities toward a shared vision of improving education access and outcomes for underserved learners. To learn more, visit www.educationimpactfund.org.

About ECMC Foundation
ECMC Foundation is a national foundation whose North Star goal is to eliminate equity gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040. The Foundation’s mission is to improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. ECMC Foundation makes strategic grants and program-related investments to support both nonprofit and for-profit ventures, guided by a strategic framework that aims to advance systemic change by removing barriers to postsecondary completion; building the capacity of organizations, institutions and systems; and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem. Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting www.ecmcfoundation.org.

About Prosper
Prosper is a nonprofit founded in 2021 with a vision to build the most inclusive and thriving economy in the Southeast by aligning Birmingham and Jefferson County around inclusive Job Creation, Job Preparation, and Job Access goals and strategies.