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By Lindsey St. Arnold Bell, Executive Director, Near West Side Partners
MILWAUKEE – Near West Side Partners, Inc. (NWSP) today announced the eleven finalists selected as part of this year’s Rev-Up MKE small business competition. The program has provided local entrepreneurs the opportunity to expand or start a business in the Near West Side since 2016. This year’s competition will feature an interactive, expo-style event on September 16 in which finalists will showcase their business ideas to judges and the community.
“We are excited about the variety of ways each finalist serves our neighborhoods – from holistic wellness to fashion,” said Lindsey St Arnold Bell, Executive Director of NWSP. “Each of these finalists fulfills a real community need, and this kind of investment in small businesses is exactly what keeps our neighborhoods vibrant.”
A review committee selected eleven finalists based on the strength of their applications and the quality of their business ideas. Each finalist will receive business training and support in the weeks ahead as they prepare their presentations for the judges. Doors will open to the public at the Rave on September 16 at 5 p.m.
“Rev-Up MKE has been a launchpad for aspiring entrepreneurs and has introduced many staples to the Near West Side, including The Booth MKE, Pete’s Pops, CeLani Skin and Wellness and A Goodman’s Desserts,” said Lindsey St Arnold Bell. “Near West Side Partners is proud to continue this tradition of supporting entrepreneurs with incredible potential to plant their roots on the Near West Side.”
Returning this year to Rev-Up MKE is banking partner Town Bank, who will provide funding support for the winning finalist and is sponsoring this year’s event.
“What excites us most about this competition is its proven track record of serving as a launchpad for past finalists to achieve real success,” said Jay Mack, President & CEO of Town Bank and Wintrust Wisconsin Market Head. “This year’s cohort represents a dynamic mix of industries, backgrounds, and innovative ideas. Championing entrepreneurs like these remains central to our mission at Town Bank.”
Finalists
Art as an Outlet Wisconsin | Bradley Perich | Photography and media education program that has mentored more than 300 youth over two years through a partnership with Notes for Notes at Milwaukee Academy of Science. The business seeks a storefront to expand into adult classes and larger group instruction, building the next generation of visual artists and entrepreneurs.
Brilliantaires Inc | Roberta Steward | Private school transforming workforce development through career training, digital access, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship education. By combining accessible instruction with real-world workforce preparation, Brilliantaires is expanding to a hybrid learning model that empowers young adults ages 17–24 with the skills, certifications, technology, and opportunities needed to build sustainable careers and thrive in today’s workforce.
Casita Prado | Christina Lopez-Prado | Children’s apparel company producing sustainable, small-batch clothing from deadstock fabrics, manufactured in the Midwest. Through its values of sustainability, culture, and empowerment, it engages families through community events, creative workshops, and youth programming, inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Jivana Wellness | Alexandria Ellis | Holistic wellness company offering herbal remedies, Reiki, chakra balancing, and wellness workshops grounded in Ayurveda and spiritual practice. Led by a certified Ayurveda Health Counselor and Reiki Master Teacher, the business aims to make culturally inclusive wellness care more accessible in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Hip-Hop Museum | Antonia Marie Anderson | The Milwaukee Hip Hop Museum (officially known as Antonia’s 365 Hip Hop Museum) is a culturally rich, locally curated archive located in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. Founded in 2019 by Antonia Anderson, it houses over 5,000 artifacts – including rare vinyl, cassettes, action figures, and vintage magazines, spanning the 80s and 90s era.
Milwaukee Mandalas | Christina Destrampe | Layered paper art business creating hand-assembled mandalas inspired by Milwaukee landmarks, sold through local boutiques alongside DIY kits and hands-on workshops. Operating for more than five years, Milwaukee Mandalas is focused on expanding its reach through additional retail partnerships, workshops, and opportunities to connect with the Milwaukee community.
Peaceful Dispute Resolution | Ara V. Jackson | Mediation practice offering general, family, landlord-tenant, and workplace dispute resolution, including a faith-based option. With 80 hours of formal training and a 95 percent resolution rate over two years of volunteer court mediation, the business is preparing to join the family court mediation roster in October 2026.
Senses Yoga School | Luan Seguim-Arnold | Community-centered wellness and leadership ecosystem that brings yoga, breathwork, ecological education, and community programming into Milwaukee’s libraries, parks, gardens, workplaces, and neighborhood spaces. Through initiatives like the Yoga Arts Garden Initiative, it is cultivating healthier individuals, stronger communities, and an accessible model of place-based wellness rooted in education, service, and stewardship.
Stajah Stunna Enterprises | Christajah Hister | Beauty and business brand providing hair, wig installation, makeup, and lash services. The vision of the business extends beyond beauty services to creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs through Stajah Stunna Beauty Collective, a professional suite where beauty professionals can rent stations, build their clientele, and grow their businesses in a collaborative environment.
The African In Us Boutique | Latoya Swift | Boutique helping to reconnect people with and celebrate African culture through fashion and all-natural hair and skin products. We offer African and African-inspired jewelry, clothing, tote bags, head wraps, and more.
The Baker’s Connection | Paige Cross | Southern-inspired bakery specializing in nostalgic desserts, including caramel cake, banana pudding, and a sugar-sensible product line. Operating for one to three years, the business is scaling from home production into a storefront and pop-up model while creating local jobs in baking and decorating.
Live Pitch Event
Rev-Up MKE will culminate with an expo-style format event on September 16th, hosted at the Rave/Eagles Ballroom. Doors will open to the public at the Rave at 5 p.m.
The winners – who will be announced that evening – will receive significant resources to support their business venture.
The First Place prize includes:
- $5,000 in cash for operational costs or business investment
- Dedicated retail pop-up space at Concordia 27
- Business coaching and consulting
- Social media and marketing support
The prize for Second Place is $1,500 cash. Additionally, the community will be able to vote for an Audience’s Choice Award $500 winner on the night of the competition.
Additional details about the finalists and the event are available on the NWSP website here.
Tickets to the event can be reserved here.
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About Near West Side Partners, Inc.
Near West Side Partners (NWSP) is a non-profit organization that works to revitalize the Near West Side of Milwaukee in four key focus areas: safety, housing, attracting and retaining businesses, and promoting the well-being of our neighbors. NWSP was founded through the support of business and civic leaders, including the organization’s five anchor institutions – Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, Molson Coors and Potawatomi Ventures.
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