Brought to you in partnership by

WACIF and LEDC present The Pivot Project: From Necessity to Opportunity Entrepreneurship, a curated workshop series and technical assistance program designed to help entrepreneurs across the Washington Metropolitan Region gain the clarity, tools, and connections needed to transition into full-time business ownership or scale with confidence. 

This program is designed for entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, creatives, service providers, and small business owners looking for clarity, structure, and momentum to plan, refine, or relaunch their ventures.

Whether you’re exploring your ideas or ready to take action, these workshops provide the insight and confidence needed to move forward and accelerate your business growth and visibility.

Program Schedule

Workshop 1: January 21, 2026

Unlock New Opportunities with WBEC Greater DMV Get Certified. Get Visible. Grow Your Business.

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | The True Reformer Building

This session is designed to help you understand, access, and strategically leverage business certifications that can elevate your visibility and competitiveness in today’s marketplace. As part of the PIVOT Initiative, this workshop supports local founders with the tools, structure, and confidence needed to build sustainable and scalable businesses.

What You’ll Learn

In this dynamic 90-minute session, you will:

• Understand the certification landscape for women-owned businesses
• Learn the key differences between Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certifications
• Receive step-by-step guidance on how to qualify and apply
• Hear real-world success stories from women who’ve used certification to grow their businesses
• Connect directly with WBEC Greater DMV experts and get your questions answered

Workshop 2: Tuesday, February 10

Business Vision Masterclass — From Ideas to Impact A Strategic Planning Workshop for Emerging Entrepreneurs

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

This dynamic strategic workshop is designed to move entrepreneurs from ideas to action. In 90 minutes, participants will gain clarity on their business identity, articulate a powerful value proposition, and translate their vision into a clear roadmap for growth and funding readiness.

What You’ll Learn

During this interactive masterclass, participants will:

• Clarify their business purpose and long-term vision using a guided framework
• Define a strong value proposition that clearly differentiates their business
• Outline a simple, strategic business model for long-term success
• Turn ideas into a focused 3-month action plan with clear priorities
• Understand the core elements of a funder-ready business plan

Workshop 3: Tuesday, March 10

Find the Right Franchise for You. A Business Model for Success

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Virtual (Microsoft Teams)



This masterclass is designed to equip participants with the clarity, confidence, and strategic roadmap needed to explore franchising as a pathway to entrepreneurship. Often described as a “business in a box,” franchising offers a proven model for building a profitable business without reinventing operations, marketing, or infrastructure. This engaging session will demystify the franchising process and help attendees assess whether it aligns with their goals, skills, and lifestyle.

What You’ll Learn

In this interactive masterclass, participants will:

• Understand why now is an ideal time to explore franchise ownership
• Assess whether franchising aligns with their personal goals, skills, and lifestyle
• Learn a proven 6-step framework to identify their “Perfect Fit” franchise
• Explore funding and financing options for franchise ownership
• Discover how to translate transferable skills—especially from federal or corporate careers—into successful entrepreneurship

Workshop 4: Tuesday, April 28

Business Ownership — Insights & Information

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

This educational workshop is designed to help participants understand the key considerations involved in purchasing an existing business. The session offers a practical overview of ownership pathways and decision-making factors to support both aspiring and transitioning entrepreneurs. Participants will examine how personal goals, financial readiness, and risk tolerance shape the type of business ownership that best aligns with their lifestyle and long-term vision.

Featured Speakers

Lucien “Lou” Smith

Founder and CEO of ProLaundry Corporation, Lou Smith brings hands-on experience in business acquisition, strategic financing, and long-term wealth-building. His perspective is grounded in active ownership and focuses on helping entrepreneurs move beyond self-employment to build scalable, sustainable enterprises.

Achille Ekeu, CVA

Founder and CEO of The Washington Valuation Group, Achille Ekeu provides data-driven insights into business valuation, transactions, and strategic financial decision-making. His expertise helps participants understand how valuation informs smart acquisitions, transitions, and long-term financial planning.

Jeffrey Herrell

Representing Culture to Go and the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Jeffrey Herrell offers a community-centered lens on entrepreneurship. His experience spans small business incubation, local ownership, and operating brick-and-mortar businesses, grounding theory in real-world practice.

What You’ll Learn

During this session, participants will learn about:

• The motivations and trade-offs of buying an existing business vs. starting from scratch
• How lifestyle goals—time commitment, income expectations, and level of involvement—impact ownership decisions
• Assessing risk tolerance and financial readiness for business acquisition
• Understanding the difference between owner-operator and absentee ownership models

The Pivot Project Networking Reception at WACIF’s Cultivate Summit

Friday, March 27, 2026

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Convene Hamilton Square

The WACIF Cultivate Summit is a cornerstone gathering designed to support women entrepreneurs and small business owners with both practical expertise and meaningful connection. The summit creates a space where founders can access tailored guidance, build strategic relationships, and strengthen their path toward sustainable business growth.

A key feature of the summit is Expert Open Hours (Technical Assistance), these personalized meetings provide hands-on support across critical business areas including accounting, legal matters, CBE, WBE, WOSB, and MBE certifications, capital readiness and financing, credit building, and banking. Attendees are encouraged to pre-enroll during the Cultivate Summit registration process, with limited same-day availability possible.

The day concludes with a Networking Reception hosted by WACIF and the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) as part of the PIVOT Project. This energizing reception brings together entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners, industry leaders, and aspiring founders for intentional relationship-building, collaboration, and shared learning. Designed to spark new ideas and opportunities, the reception offers a welcoming environment to exchange experiences, explore resources, and turn momentum into action.

For more information or inquiries, please contact Alexandra Boycheck at aboycheck@ledcmetro.org or Leslie Tetteh at ltetteh@wacif.org.