The Dallas Mavericks’ Mavs Business Assist (MBA) program is back for its third year, offering diverse business owners an opportunity to flourish.
With support and guidance from their hometown team and the entrepreneurial experts at ZenBusiness, 100 DFW-based businesses were welcomed into the 2024-25 cohort.
The first of many in-person development sessions marked the program’s official start on Oct. 2.
In its entirety, the MBA program will feature five in-person networking and mentorship sessions that stretch into March 2025. The program will formally conclude with a vendor fair in May.
Participants will also gain access to the ZenBusiness platform with personalized coaching, be featured on Mavericks platforms, and upon completion of the program, are invited to become official business partners of the team.
Not only is the MBA program designed to guide entrepreneurs as they launch or expand their businesses, but it also cements belief in their ideas and ability to achieve their goals.
“The biggest lesson for these entrepreneurs is the building of confidence,” said Marcela Shine, head of corporate marketing at ZenBusiness. “That confidence they need to be able to talk about their business no matter where they are, whether it’s at a bank, whether it’s with a new network they’ve met here at the program or a pitch competition. The beauty of this is that once you start doing these pitches and you get that practice, you build confidence, and that is what I expect to see at the end of this cohort.
“What I witnessed during the first session was a collaboration already developing, even among the entrepreneurs, how they support each other, how they feel supported by the Mavs and this program, and that’s what’s important.”
The growth opportunities are boundless. During each session, participants will learn from industry experts on principles like marketing, finance, business tax and legalities.
Bi-weekly virtual sessions with Shine round out the curriculum, where macro topics will be explored in detail, and entrepreneurs will have access to one-on-one coaching.
“This year’s cohort should be looking forward to being present, being in the moment and making the most of this opportunity,” said Sean Reed, the Mavericks’ director of social responsibility. “This opportunity is more than just a pitch competition. It’s about networking. It’s about making connections. It’s about going from a passionate founder to a CEO.”
Among the new faces in the cohort was Taylor Diggs, owner of BPrep Services, a staffing agency that specializes in helping convicted felons find jobs to prevent clients from falling back into destructive behaviors.
Diggs was recognized as one of the MBA Scavenger Hunt winners early into the session, where she won tickets to an upcoming Mavs preseason game.
While she didn’t know exactly what to expect when applying for the program, after just one session, she feels assured it was meant to be.
“After participating in my first Mavs Business Assist session, I feel great— having the opportunity to grow, to meet new people, to learn new things,” said Diggs.
“My business can elevate when it comes to marketing, when it comes to the different people we’re going to meet, even just the peers that I spoke to today. Having those connections…hearing (Kristen Wells-Collins) the previous pitch competition winner talk about how showing up can help you succeed was a great opportunity. I’m big on testimonials— I like to hear how people in the past have grown from different experiences, so I’m grateful to have this as a resource.”
For Diggs and all those in the newest MBA cohort, the first session marked a new chapter and a new beginning for their businesses. Whether in the early stages of forming an LLC or a long-standing staple in the community, growth is on the horizon.
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