Tantrum Selected for 2025 Trailblazers Fellowship, presented by SheaMoisture x The Gathering Spot

This September, Tantrum's CEO David Tann traveled to DC to join 19 fellow entrepreneurs for a transformative business-education program designed to support and empower male entrepreneurs and business owners.

The 20 attended as a part of SheaMoisture and The Gathering Spot's 2025 Trailblazers Fellowship cohort, which included a one-week business education intensive at Georgetown University. During the intensive, they received business support, mentorship and an exclusive one-year membership from The Gathering Spot to expand their network.

"The Trailblazers [program] is unique in its focus on entrepreneurial excellence grounded in cultural competency,” states Melissa Bradley, Professor of Practice Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business and lead instructor for the Trailblazers Fellowship. “The businesses have grown and expanded thanks to the training, mentorship and community formed while at Georgetown.”

The Fellowship was specifically created to provide male entrepreneurs with the tools, funding and education needed to grow and scale their businesses and generate long-lasting impact in their communities. Fellows are recruited from cities across the U.S. including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and New York and ultimately selected through a competitive application process.

The first cohort of 20 was announced in 2021 in Atlanta with a goal of supporting 100 entrepreneurs by 2026. To date the program has awarded more than $80,000 in grants, offset more than $600k in tuition and membership fees, and provided more than 92 hours of business education. 

“The Trailblazers Fellowship is a manifestation of SheaMoisture’s commitment to uplift and support the Black community,” said Greg Jones, Purpose and Partnerships Lead at SheaMoisture. “In this milestone year, we are proud to continue our support of male business owners by supporting their entrepreneurial growth and business development in their home city of Atlanta."
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The 2025 Trailblazers Fellowship Cohort:

● Aaron Fender - CEO of Portrait Coffee

● Ahmad Bizzell- CEO of Brand New Wave

● Andrew Nguyen - CEO of The O Agency

● Chris Peay - Co-Founder and CMO of Community Media Co.

● David Byas-Smith - CEO of The Studio Card Game

● David Tann - Founder/CEO of Tantrum Agency

● Eugene Winn - Founder and CEO of NJoyA Bones Handcrafted Organic Dog Treats

● Jai Lyle - CEO and Founder of Jai Lyle MCMLXXII

● Jamie Hemmings - CEO of Nourish and Bloom Market

● Jhordan Gibbs - Co-CEO and Head of Partnerships of Milk & Cookies, LLC

● Joshua Hite - CEO of Plant Zaddy Club

● Lawrence Phillips - Founder and CEO of Green Book Global

● Randy D. Williams - CEO of Talley and Twine

● Omari Anderson - Founder/CEO of The Best Dirty Lemonade

● Onaje Henderson - Co-Owner of ZuCot Gallery

● Paul Owusu - CEO of Phreshly Brands, Inc

● Roy Scott - CEO of Healthy Hip Hop

● Stefan Miller - Co-Founder and CMO of Young King Haircare

● Timothy George - Founder and CEO of eLo

● Tracaris Williams - Founder of Tracaris

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ABOUT THE GATHERING SPOT:

The Gathering Spot is a private network that provides professionals , creatives, and entrepreneurs with access to the network, exclusive content, unique experiences, concierge services, and access to The Gathering Spot flagship club locations that include working space, event space and restaurant and bar. The Gathering Spot clubs are located in Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, as well as Connected City communities in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Charlotte, and Houston.

ABOUT SHEAMOISTURE:

SheaMoisture champions the beauty, versatility, and the strength of the Black community, celebrating every facet of her journey, from hair to body and beyond. We are here for hair, yes, and her skin, her confidence, her self-expression, and her wellness, too. Our commitment to “no compromise” beauty means SheaMoisture products are infused with select natural ingredients, like shea butter, and ingredients powered by science, fortifying textured hair and melanin skin with the moisture it needs to stay healthy and grow beautifully for limitless versatility. Shea butter, one of core ingredients, is praised for its hydrating and nourishing properties, and sourced from women-led cooperatives in West Africa, providing fair wages and creating economic opportunities. SheaMoisture leads globally in hair care, bath, body, skin care, baby, and men’s categories, and is distributed in retailers throughout the world. SheaMoisture is a subsidiary of Unilever.

*Net sales refers to net sales value (NSV), which represents gross sales (volume*price) - efficient ordering discounts

‍ABOUT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY BUSINESS FOR IMPACT:

Business for Impact is a center of excellence founded on corporate purpose and societal impact at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. They operate as a teach, think, and do tank, and strive to educate and empower Georgetown students to lead purposeful careers and lives. BFI partners with businesses to advance corporate purpose thinking and practice through multi-sector collaborations and research, as well as help nonprofits, small businesses, and the communities they serve to prosper. Their mission is to harness the power of business to help all people prosper and the planet thrive.

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