{"id":18677,"date":"2025-08-20T10:15:43","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=18677"},"modified":"2025-08-20T10:15:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:15:44","slug":"building-businesses-and-communities-wilmu-partners-with-launcher-to-help-aspiring-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/20\/building-businesses-and-communities-wilmu-partners-with-launcher-to-help-aspiring-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Businesses and Communities: WilmU Partners With Launcher To Help Aspiring Entrepreneurs\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18677_603de9-20{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18677_603de9-20 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18677_603de9-20\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>Most peoples\u2019 paths in life don\u2019t follow a straight line, and <strong>Jamie Shanklin-Spencer<\/strong> is no exception. Her journey took her from \u201cowning a hair salon to being a farmer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jamie-Shanklin-Spencer.jpg\" alt=\"Jamie Shanklin-Spencer\" class=\"wp-image-18680\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jamie Shanklin-Spencer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was diagnosed with two autoimmune disorders a few years ago, and since then I\u2019ve changed my eating habits,\u201d says Shanklin-Spencer, who started gardening, which led to farming and then opening a new business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/messiahsmarket.shop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Messiah\u2019s Market Herbs &amp; Horticulture<\/a> in Wilmington, Delaware, is a \u201cnonprofit agricultural education business,\u201d she says. \u201cWe do our part to fight food insecurities through education and exposure.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shanklin-Spencer credits the <a href=\"https:\/\/launcherde.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Launcher<\/a> program, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westendnh.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">West End Neighborhood House\u2019s<\/a> entrepreneurial incubator.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s where you launch your vision, hence the name \u2018Launcher,\u2019\u201d she says, describing the 14-week business training program. \u201cIt\u2019s like a hub of benefits.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Launcher entrepreneurs have created almost 1,200 jobs and nearly 660 businesses, 94% of which are minority owned.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLauncher is more than just a business training program \u2014 we are a movement to build community wealth from the ground up,\u201d says <strong>Emily Duran<\/strong>, Launcher program director. \u201cWe walk alongside entrepreneurs at every stage, offering not just knowledge but hands-on support, access to funding, connections to real estate and a trusted network of partners across the state. We believe in the people behind the ideas, and we are deeply invested in helping them build businesses that are not only sustainable but rooted in their communities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Empowering Entrepreneurs Through Strategic Partnerships\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wilmington University<\/a> partners with Launcher to host the curriculum, providing mentorship, resources and three academic credits for completing the program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Healther-Holding.jpg\" alt=\"Heather Holding (Left)\" class=\"wp-image-18681\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heather Holding (Left)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I saw the Launcher program leverages WilmU, that made it more exciting because I knew it was going to be a solid program,\u201d says <strong>Heather Holding<\/strong>, a Wilmington University alum and chief risk officer at Best Egg, a loan agency in New Castle County, Delaware. \u201cThey really teach you all of the foundational things you need to be successful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She and her husband have talked about opening a consulting company or laundromat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI wanted to get the knowledge to even start on that path,\u201d Holding says. \u201cThere was so much I learned in such a short period of time, and the network of people you have access to was just incredible. It continues to open doors for me.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Launcher charges $100 for the program, which so far has helped more than <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/13\/wilmington-university-celebrates-the-1000th-graduate-of-the-launcher-entrepreneurship-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1,200 entrepreneurs<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMany of our participants start with just an idea, and through our programs, they leave with a plan, a support system and the confidence to grow,\u201d Duran says. \u201cWe want to be remembered as the place where people don\u2019t just learn how to run a business \u2014 they learn that they belong in business.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grateful for their Launcher experience, Holding and Shanklin-Spencer often refer others.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s a great program,\u201d Holding says. \u201cThey\u2019re really tailored to what you\u2019re working on and what you\u2019re trying to accomplish.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shanklin-Spencer adds, \u201cWhen you are resilient to things, there\u2019s no limit to what you can achieve.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18677_db2e5f-36 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18677_839248-62 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18677_839248-62 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18677_66ee76-47:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18677_66ee76-47.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18677_66ee76-47 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18677_66ee76-47 image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wilmu-cta-logo-wu.svg\" alt=\"Wilm U post footer logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17727\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18677_8427cf-24 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Learn more about <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/launcherde.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Launcher<\/em><\/a><em> and apply today to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Launcher graduates receive three academic credits at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Wilmington University<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most peoples\u2019 paths in life don\u2019t follow a straight line, and Jamie Shanklin-Spencer is no exception. Her journey took her from \u201cowning a hair salon&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1032,1046,1047,830,1049,14,15],"class_list":["post-18677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-business","tag-college-of-business-and-technology","tag-launcher","tag-launcher-entrepreneurship-program","tag-management-and-administration-degrees","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"ACADEMIC NEWS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1032,"label":"Business"},{"value":1046,"label":"college of business and technology"},{"value":1047,"label":"launcher"},{"value":830,"label":"Launcher Entrepreneurship Program"},{"value":1049,"label":"Management and Administration Degrees"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Launcher-logo-Wilmington-skyline-3-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Mckayla Imperatrice","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/mckayla\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","slug":"academic-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":559,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":460,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":460,"category_description":"","cat_name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","category_nicename":"academic-news","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":1032,"name":"Business","slug":"business","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1589,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1046,"name":"college of business and technology","slug":"college-of-business-and-technology","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1603,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":16,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1047,"name":"launcher","slug":"launcher","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1604,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":830,"name":"Launcher Entrepreneurship Program","slug":"launcher-entrepreneurship-program","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1387,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1049,"name":"Management and Administration Degrees","slug":"management-and-administration-degrees","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1606,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18677"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18683,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18677\/revisions\/18683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}