Building the next generation of Holly Springs businesses

When I went through the Launch program, I was teaching private music lessons out of my home to eight students. I saw the need to expand access to music education in Holly Springs, and I had the passion to do it – but I didn’t have the business know-how to turn it into something real. Launch Holly Springs changed that. The program gave me the foundation, the mentorship, and the confidence to transform giving music lessons into an actual business.

Shortly after I graduated LHS, Ashe School of Music opened our first studio with 45 students. Enrollment doubled within months and we expanded into a second location. Today, Ashe School of Music serves over 400 students weekly with a team of more than 20 instructors, from two beautiful downtown Holly Springs locations. Our newly opened Ashe Music Hall has become a valued hub for cultural & performing arts in Holly Springs. 

None of that would have happened without Launch Holly Springs. They didn’t just teach me how to run a business – they believed in the idea and gave me everything I needed for success.

My business went from being operated by a solo cleaner (myself) to a fully staffed company with 19 employees. LHS provided opportunities to meet and network with different Cohort graduates, as well as the providence of a mentor that helped guide me and my business in the right direction.

I learned 2 key lessons. First, in today’s business world, it’s more about your network than your net worth. Second, I learned that if you provide overwhelming value to your customers, they’ll have no other choice but to stay with you and refer you.

Launch helped us accelerate our growth and gave us the confidence to move forward with our vision and make it a reality! Launch has provided us with a wonderful community of entrepreneurs at all stages of their business across many industries. Launch has also provided us with tools and resources to plan, prepare, and execute the vision for our business. The Launch program is an equalizer for small business owners as it gives them the tools and resources to optimize their ability to succeed.

Our graduation from Launch Holly Springs has given us not only a sound business foundation, but also access to a ready-made support community. We regularly connect with our Launch family to network, get feedback and ideas on business concerns, and tap into business development programs and opportunities. Lastly, the Launch community continues to support us through word-of-mouth referrals.