Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub
Flywheel equips diverse, mission minded entrepreneurs with knowledge, strategies, tactics, and connections to launch and expand businesses dedicated to positive social change.
Melisse May
P&G Alumni Grant Champion
Melisse May
32 years at P&G in Brand Management and Product Development; USA, Germany, Switzerland
Additional (12) Alumni involvement from: Sandy Hughes, Len Sauers, Tricia Morris, Rhonda Starghill, Paul Szydlowski, Bob Ziek, Kreg Kessee, Sue Baggott, Christine Fisher, Will Carter,
Janine Maletic and Lydia Henshaw.
Over the past 7 years Melisse has strengthened Flywheel by coaching rising entrepreneurs in their start-up accelerator program, developing marketing materials to attract potential coaches, establishing a training program to onboard new Flywheel entrepreneur coaches, leading the development of Flywheel’s strategic plan and developing the roadmap for Flywheel to use metrics to increase impact.
Melisse acknowledges the value of our P&G experience in helping guide young entrepreneurs, and particularly those whose companies or NGO’s focus on social problems. She writes in her letter of support that “Flywheel is truly a great fit for the skills developed at P&G. I use those skills to help lift numerous non-profits and social enterprises which are benefiting thousands of people and contributing to the social and economic growth of the community.” And notwithstanding her high degree of personal involvement in Flywheel, Melisse in her letter acknowledges the thousands of hours of volunteer service that Flywheel receives from many P&G Alumni, and the incredibly high value Alums provide. She writes, ‘While I am sponsoring this application, it could just as easily be one of the ten or more Cincinnati based P&G Alumni who volunteer with Flywheel.”
Flywheel serves social entrepreneurs primarily in the Greater Cincinnati region through its eight-week accelerator programs and shorter customized workshops. Companies can be early or mid-stage. Some are developing an idea into a business. Others have a business they are trying to grow and scale. Subject matter experts covering topics such as customer validation, market fit, impact measurement, revenue models and financial plans, legal, marketing, funding strategies, and more. Entrepreneurs are paired with a coaching team that provide support as the entrepreneur applies each lesson to their business plan. The program concludes with a Demo Day where each business pitches to an audience of 150-200 potential investors, customers, and guests. Over the next year, 12-20 founders and co-founders enrolled in its accelerators will launch 8-10 growable, scalable social enterprise businesses.
The $23,000 PGAF grant will help drive the start-up and growth of 10 new businesses in the Accelerator program and impact more than a thousand family/community members. Funds will support the marketing and community engagement needed to recruit and select entrepreneurs, the networking needed to recruit and prep volunteer mentor entrepreneurs, direct expenses for program staff, for hosting speakers, and for funding the Flywheel Demo Day for 150+ guests.
In the heart of Cincinnati, where urban landscapes often mask the scarcity of fresh produce, one man saw an opportunity for transformation. Domonique Peebles, known as Dom, didn’t just see vacant lots—he saw potential. And at Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, he found the support and resources to turn his vision into reality.
Dom’s mission is clear: to breathe life into forgotten spaces by transforming them into thriving hubs of food production. At Flywheel, Dom found more than just knowledge and strategies—he found a community of like-minded entrepreneurs dedicated to creating positive social change. Reflecting on his journey, Dom speaks of the ripple effect his work has had on the neighborhood. “Imagine how it all circulates through the neighborhood,” he says. “Kids are learning, families are eating healthier, and the community is coming together in ways we never thought possible.”