08/03/2026
What happens when vision meets commitment? Growth becomes inevitable.
Over the past several weeks, the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce, 8 Count Kitchen TM and Maine Management Co.'s Small Business Bootcamp Masterclass has been about far more than business plans—it has been about helping entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable, market-ready businesses.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor, Maxwell Home Inspection Services, LLC for believing in the importance of investing in entrepreneurs and helping make this inaugural program possible.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to our incredible coaches, guest experts, and Pitch Night judges. Your willingness to share your knowledge, challenge participants, ask the tough questions, and invest your time created an experience that will have a lasting impact on every entrepreneur who walked through our doors.
Most importantly, congratulations to each member of our inaugural Bootcamp cohort. You showed up week after week, completed assignments, embraced feedback, refined your ideas, and pushed yourselves outside of your comfort zones. Every participant leaves stronger than when they arrived.
A very special congratulations to our Pitch Night Champion, Stephen Rouse of UNBXX!
Stephen entered the Bootcamp with an idea. Over the course of the program, he committed fully to every session, every coaching opportunity, and every week's theme—from customer strategy and brand identity to digital presence and pitching. By the finale, he had transformed that idea into a well-developed business with a clear value proposition, a refined pitch, and marketing materials already underway.
Stephen is a perfect example of what happens when preparation meets opportunity. His willingness to learn, implement feedback, and do the work made all the difference, and we can't wait to watch UNBXX continue to grow.
Congratulations again to all of our entrepreneurs—you've built more than businesses. You've built momentum.
This is just the beginning.
Kitchen
