Meet the Winners: $111,294 Invested in Two Founders Building What's Next

The 2026 Boost Your Business Grant, presented by KNOW Cares and FOCU$ED, gave cash and a stacked package of business services to two women ready to grow. Here’s who they are and why they were chosen.

At FOCU$ED, we say the day is for women who WANT to build wildly successful businesses, by women who HAVE. The Boost Your Business Grant is where that promise turns into real support. This year, KNOW Cares and FOCU$ED awarded $111,294 in cash and services to two women-owned businesses, one in Atlanta and one in Chicago. Each winner was announced live, in the room.

Our selection committee looks at one thing above all: projectability. Where is this founder today, and how far can the right cash and the right support take her? This year’s winners answered that question in two very different ways.

Atlanta: Kenyatta Watkins, The Astounding Academy

Kenyatta is the owner and director of The Astounding Academy, a boutique childcare and early learning center in Dunwoody, Georgia. It serves children from six weeks to twelve years old. She holds a degree in early childhood education and has twelve years of experience working with children. Her program stands out for its small class sizes, STEM learning, afterschool care, and summer camp.

The committee saw more than experience. It saw runway. Kenyatta already has the expertise. The grant gives her the infrastructure to scale and expand: branding, a new website, and stronger systems and processes. Her package is valued at $55,647. It includes a branding photography experience, a CRM setup and website build, a Working Genius session for her and her team, an HR and staffing consultation, and business tax strategy. Every piece fits a business that’s ready to grow.

Chicago: Gauri Chawla, Her Aurelia Era

Gauri is the founder of Her Aurelia Era, a modern destination for women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Her platform treats midlife not as a fading chapter but as an era of purpose and power. It pairs trusted guidance with insight from vetted experts.

The committee loved her focus on women’s health and the problem she’s solving. The perimenopause and menopause space is full of noise, and many women don’t know who to trust. Gauri is building a place where every resource is vetted. She’s doing it as she approaches her major launch, which is exactly when a grant can change a business’s trajectory. Her package is valued at $55,647. It includes PR strategy, trademark clearance and filing, a search and AI visibility audit, a social media audit with a 30-day content plan, a branding photography experience, and a website build. Together, that’s the launch toolkit she needs.

What the Grant Delivers

Each winner receives $2,500 in cash plus services from more than 20 donors. The services cover web design, PR, CRM setup, financial planning, tax strategy, legal contract review, trademark support, branding photography, AI training, personal styling, and business strategy. Each winner also gets a lifetime KNOW Insider membership, a ticket to KNOW Summit 2027, and more.

Thank You to Our Donors

None of this happens without the experts who said yes. Every service in these packages came from someone who has built a business and chose to give the next founder a head start. That’s the WANT/HAVE promise in action.

What’s Next

The Boost Your Business Grant returns in 2027, when FOCU$ED heads to Washington, DC and Oklahoma City this fall.

With Gratitude to Our 2026 Grant Donors

Ari Krzyzek, Chykalophia: Website design and development

Michelle Mekky, Mekky Media: PR consultation

Kristi and Jade Lee, Elevate My CRM: CRM setup and website

Beth Nolan, Private Wealth Advisor: Financial planning

Tracy Ftacek: Exit Ready CEO Intensive

Wendy Paige Sterling: Intuitive clarity session

Erica Allen, DiAngelo Law: Trademark clearance and registration

Jillian Murphy: 2-hour business breakdown

Esme, YOUnique Socials: Social audit and 30-day content plan

Allison Cummins, Blue Outcomes: Working Genius session

Ashley Howard, Ashley’s Focus Photography: Brand photography experience

Denise Smith, AI Innovision: Foundations of AI training

Jodi Sanchez, Styled by Jodi: Personal and professional styling

Khalila Fooks, Brand Search Works: Search visibility audit and 90-day roadmap

Ashley Walter, Ashley Walter Law Group: Contract review and legal strategy

Constance Jones, HJ Staffing: HR/staffing consultation and job posting

Julia White, The Financialpreneurs: Business tax strategy intensive

Emily Parks, Organize for Success, LLC: Cash donation

Carrita Tanner Cloud, Creatively Justified: Cash donation

KNOW Cares: Grant cash award

KNOW Women: Lifetime Insider membership and KNOW Summit ticket