Elevating Enterprise: Inside the I-Corridor

In this episode of Elevating Enterprise Jazzy T + RJ catch up with Yahaira Zapata, Deputy Director of Economic Development at the Enterprise Center at Pathstone in Rochester, NY, who shares insider tips every MWBE and small business owner should know before signing on the dotted line. From accessing your share of $300,000 in new SBA funding, to rebuilding your credit after the pandemic, Yahaira drops gems on how to fund smart, avoid predatory pitfalls, and grow with strategy.

💸 From micro-loans to pitch competitions, and credit rebuilding to relationship-building—this episode will show you how access + education = elevation.

✅ Why “how much can I get?” is the wrong question to ask

✅ How to make your business funding-ready—even with shaky credit

✅ Free technical assistance and training programs that give you a competitive edge

✅ What lenders actually want to see in your projections and business plan

Chapters:

0:00 – Fueling Dreams: How Microloans + Education Empower Entrepreneurs

2:51 – Funding Our Future: Resources for Diverse & Underserved Founders

6:02 – Facing Credit Hurdles? Here's Why You're Not Alone

7:59 – Bounce Back Better: Rebuilding Business Credit After the Pandemic

9:50 – From Confused to Confident: Free Business Education That Works

16:03 – Why Smart Entrepreneurs Show Up for Free Programs

19:45 – Money on Your Terms: How Flexible Loans Can Help You Grow

22:22 – Fund Smart, Not Fast: Strategies to Secure the Right Support

26:35 – Relationships Over Rejections: How to Stay Top of Mind and Get Funded

30:15 – Your Playbook: 3 Must-Do Moves to Get Funding-Ready

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 2 🍕Create A Pizza is the last fast-casual pizza shop still standing in Rochester.

So what did they do right that others didn’t—and how can you follow their lead?

This episode of Elevating Enterprise is your behind-the-counter blueprint for navigating the real world of food service entrepreneurship. We sat down on location with owners Katelyn and John to unpack how they launched their pizza shop without startup capital, survived a pandemic, and built loyal customer trust while others shut their doors.

🎯 You’ll learn:

🔹 Why sweat equity can open more doors than startup capital

🔹 The hidden cost of delivery apps like Grubhub

🔹 How zoning laws can make or break your restaurant dreams

🔹 How consistency and an owner-operator model can outlast competition

🔹 What most first-time business owners wish they knew about leases and location

Whether you're still tossing dough in the back or sketching out your dream restaurant, this episode gives you the real talk and proven strategies to help you build smarter—and stay in business.

Chapters:

0:00 Starting and Sustaining a Successful Pizza Business

7:21 Resilience and Networking in Building a Business

12:19 Negotiating Commercial Leases and Location Importance

16:00 Consistency and Local Sourcing Define Create a Pizza's Success

21:26 Adapting a Pizza Business During Covid Challenges

26:12 Building Community Connections Through Pizza and Business Innovation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 1 What if Rochester is on the brink of another tech revolution—and your business could be part of it? In this premiere episode of Elevating Enterprise, hosts Jazzy T and RJ Williams sit down with ROC AI co-founders Cody Henehan and Brendon Frazer, two Rochester natives building powerful AI solutions for businesses like yours.

With support from Microsoft and a mission rooted in community and innovation, ROC AI is helping businesses integrate Artificial Intelligence to streamline operations, secure bigger contracts, and grow with confidence.

From working with local governments to partnering with global giants, this conversation proves that the next wave of tech leadership is happening right here in Western New York.

"2025 is the Year of the AI Agent" and with partners like ROC AI your SME can be ahead of the curve of the business tech revolution.

🎯 Action Steps from This Episode:

💡 AI solutions like Microsoft Copilot can streamline your business operations—start small but think big.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to scale with intention—because success isn’t overnight, it’s strategic.

AI, enterprise, innovation, automation, networking, AI conference, enterprise growth, local innovation, strategic investments, AI models, how to reduce AI bias, importance of networking in business, building AI solutions in Rochester, strategies for enterprise success, 2025 AI agent trends

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a Small to Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) ready to level up? Elevating Enterprise is here to equip you with the strategies you need to stay ahead in today’s rapidly changing tech and policy landscape.

In our trailer, we’re giving you a sneak peek of what’s to come—including actionable insights from the founders of ROC AI on navigating these shifts.

This podcast is your go-to resource for growth, with real advice on leveraging your M/WBE status, securing bigger contracts, and scaling up smarter and faster.

🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and get ready to scale!

#ElevatingEnterprise #WBE #ScaleSmarter #TechSavvy #PolicyReady #AI #DEI #SME #MWBE

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices