After catching an Entre-SLAM show in Chicago, we were invited to bring the show to a Health Equity Summit in Washington, DC. We were given eight innovators and six weeks to coach teams that ranged from those in ideation mode to others on the verge of closing Series A and B rounds of funding. We also had the challenge of coaching entrepreneurs wired to pitch and resistant to storytelling. It was a magical night.

LIVEFREE, a $2.5 million initiative sponsored by Google.org and LIVEFREE Chicago launched programming to invest in programs and initiatives that build better access to jobs, entrepreneurship, and the alleviation of poverty and discrimination. Entre-SLAM was invited to participate in a multi-state initiative with LIVE FREE where its teams will bring business storytelling training and events to help launch new entrepreneurs and boost opportunities for growth.

Seeking a storytelling component, The Backstage Capital Detroit team invited Entre-SLAM to kick off the cohort. Combining brand storytelling, design thinking and prototyping activities, that teams, hilariously, in many cases to visually convey and articulate the power of their brand’s story.

Alerje wanted to give families managing food allergies a break and connect with them in a way that went beyond being seen as just a ‘health-tech’ company. We pitched an unconventional marketing campaign to the CEO, Javier Evelyn. Instead of trying to communicate and build a connection beyond being seen as just a tech company, we decided to make meaningful connections in ways aligned with our values. So, we birthed a new “world” and invited these families into it every month.