Bristol Community College hosting Entrepreneurship Awards Ceremony for Fall River, New Bedford businesses

Bristol Community College’s Academic Center for Entrepreneurship will host their first virtual Entrepreneurship Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 11, 2021, from 5 to 5:30 p.m., live on the college’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

The event’s keynote speaker will be Bristol Community College Alumnus Mohamed Kante ‘07, Founder and Chief Visionary of iNerde Inc. The Rhode Island-based startup iNerde Inc. empowers Malian youth by bringing STEM education, literacy and innovation to students in Africa.

After graduating from Bristol, Kante went on to finish his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University, in Boston. Shortly after completing his degree, he desired to give back by finding a way to engage students’ interests in STEM education.

In a Boston Globe feature from November 2020, Kante said, “The mission (of iNerde Inc.) is to inspire and empower African youths – to get students the skills they need to make discoveries, think critically and prosper in an evolving world. Africa has a lot of problems, and I don’t intend to solve all of them. But I do intend to touch the minds of the youth who will.”

Mohamed Kante will share his personal experiences with innovation and entrepreneurship.

Given the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses have had to adapt and overcome challenges throughout the past year.

“There have been so many entrepreneurs that have failed multiple times, but have kept going,” said Nicole Hall, Coordinator of the Academic Center for Entrepreneurship (ACE). “I believe that sometimes closing one door can lead to a new door of opportunity.”

The award ceremony will honor individuals in the community who proudly portray the spirit of entrepreneurship and despite all odds, continue to thrive. The event awards one recipient in the categories of Cornerstone Entrepreneur, Benevolent Entrepreneur, Sustainability Entrepreneur, Developing Entrepreneur, and Cornerstone Entrepreneur.

2021 Bristol Community College Academic Center for Entrepreneurship Award Recipients

Sustainability Entrepreneur: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, New Bedford, Mass.

Benevolent Entrepreneur: Healthy Bites, New Bedford, Mass.

Developing Entrepreneur: Troy City Brewing, Fall River, Mass.

Cornerstone Entrepreneur: Celia’s Boutique, New Bedford, Mass.