Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My mother is my biggest inspiration. I have watched her earn her degrees, run a nail salon, build a real estate brokerage, and lead a construction company, all while showing up for our family every single day. She never waited for permission to create something. That example taught me that hard work and vision can go hand in hand, and it's what drives me toward my own dreams in business.

How do you stay motivated?

Walking Baltimore's blocks keeps me motivated. Seeing boarded-up buildings and talking with elders who remember how the streets used to be reminds me that this work is bigger than any one person. On the hardest days, I think about my family's memories and imagine families hoping to create their own. Baltimore has never stopped fighting for herself, so how could I stop fighting for her? Showing up is what love demands.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The $25,000 would go toward activating our Baltimore launch. The largest portion supports product development, ensuring our real-time discovery, happy hour map, and gamified point system are ready for users. The remainder would fuel local marketing and community activation in neighborhoods like Fells Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, and Canton. Every dollar gets us to our first proof of concept: real users, real restaurant partners, and real results.