Written by: City of Peoria Department of Economic Development Services Visit www.PeoriaIsThePlace.com or email [email protected] to learn more. Peoria’s entrepreneurial spirit is stronger than ever—and the success of the Grand Canyon University Entrepreneur Training Program is proof. Presented in partnership with GCU’s Colangelo College of Business and the City of Peoria’s Department of Economic Development, this four month, no-cost program concluded its latest cohort with an exciting Demo Day and Pitch Event that showcased the incredible talent and innovation within our community. Led by the inspiring Dr. Robert Vera, the program offered hands-on mentoring, access to seasoned experts, practical tools, and real-world business insights—all designed to help founders sharpen their vision, scale their ventures, and thrive in today’s competitive landscape. This year, 19 entrepreneurs completed the program, and a total of $16,000 was awarded to Peoria businesses to help accelerate their next steps. The stories from this cohort speak for themselves:
- Alexis Szewczyk, Founder of Vera Vara and winner of the Great Value Award and $4,000, shared, “The GCU/City of Peoria program is the most impactful experience I’ve had. The exposure to Canyon Ventures, mentorship, and real business growth was invaluable.”
- Nikki Ortega, Founder of Spicy Saucy Dulce and recipient of the Innovation Award and $4,000, used her award to support a product pivot through rebranding and new equipment. She reflected, “I wish we had programs like this when we started five years ago—it would have helped us tremendously and guided us in the right direction.”
- Bailey Ienuso, Founder of Bloom Bread and Bakeshop, earned both the True Visionary Award and Venture of the Year, receiving $8,000 to grow her business and hire new staff. Bailey shared, “A huge thank you to GCU, the City of Peoria, Dr. Robert Vera, Alex Hernandez, and Karen Calivas for creating such an incredible program that helped me focus, grow, and dream even bigger.”
