Each year, thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropists come together in Atlanta to create a unique synergy. The event, known globally as Invest Fest, has become a cultural hub for both emerging and established business owners.
This year, The Atlanta Voice learned the stories behind some of the unique businesses at Invest Fest 2025.
The Financial Rewire
The Financial Rewire is a learning-focused company that creates tools to teach children financial literacy. Founder Rome Jones came up with the concept after being deployed to Iraq in the early 2000s.
“Having to leave my pregnant wife to serve in the war, I knew I wanted to find a way to teach my child about financial literacy,” Jones said. “I wanted to teach him 100 financial words to help him avoid the mistakes I made.”
Jones and his wife, Tiffany, raised their child using flashcards with terms such as EBITDA, capital gain, and credit building. The idea did not become a business concept until nearly 20 years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a friend encouraged Jones to expand it. Since then, Financial Rewire has been supported by middle schools across the Southeast.
“The idea is to help kids avoid being victims to things like getting an expensive car note because of a lack of financial understanding,” Jones said.
BlackBalled Golf
BlackBalled Golf is a unique golf apparel company blending golf wear with streetwear. The brand’s name nods to the word “blackball,” which Merriam-Webster defines as “to exclude socially.”
Founders Matt Daniels and Jordan Griffin started the brand after noticing a lack of apparel that appealed to their style and representation in the golf world.
“We felt that we were not socially accepted in the golf space,” said Jabari Marshall, who has served as head of marketing since the brand’s early days.
The inspiration also came from Daniels’ grandfather, William “Buddha Boy” Owens Jr., a pro-am golfer who often spoke about the discrimination he faced at country clubs.
BlackBalled Golf, the founders said, is their way of addressing the lack of inclusivity in golf. The team includes five former Division I football athletes: Daniels, Griffin, Marshall, Johnny Williams as creative director, Barack Little as director of events, and Brandon Boykin.
Double Dutch Aerobics
Double Dutch Aerobics is a one-of-a-kind fitness studio based in Atlanta.
“We can teach anyone how to double dutch in less than a minute,” said co-owner Michelle Clark.
I tested the claim, and as someone who did not know how to double-dutch initially, I learned very quickly. Double Dutch Aerobics was started by husband-and-wife team Michelle and Sean Clark. The idea came about when Michelle, a world double-dutch champion, realized there was no fitness class that used the sport as a workout.
For 13 years, Double Dutch Aerobics has traveled the world teaching people—from movie actors to prison systems to local school programs—the sport of double dutch.
The Cuppabrew Coffee
The Cuppabrew is a one-of-a-kind coffee bean distributor specializing in Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. The company was founded by husband-and-wife team Travis and Danielle Pinnock, both born in Jamaica.
“Cuppabrew Coffee is not your run-of-the-mill coffee bean you would find at Starbucks or your chain coffee shop,” Travis said. “It is an experience. You might just drink our coffee once a week on a special occasion.”
The inspiration came when Travis visited Jamaica’s Blue Mountain region for his birthday. “We learned the ugly truth about the coffee industry in Jamaica,” he said. Many coffee farmers, he discovered, were shortchanged by large distributors and were not paid livable wages.
Travis and Danielle decided to change that, partnering with farmers and paying fair wages. Travis’s environmental science background and Danielle’s technology background helped make Cuppabrew a forward-thinking, sustainable business.
“We started a business that ties back to supporting farmers in our homeland,” Danielle said.
Wimee and Wimage
Michael Hyacinthe, a Navy veteran and former combat engineer, wanted to create something positive after leaving the military. In 2016, he launched the Wimage app, which later led to the creation of Wimee, a colorful robot built from recycled parts to show kids that imagination can turn anything into something new.
“Wimee teaches kids to dream big,” Hyacinthe said. “If they can see me, a person of color and a veteran, create a character that ends up on TV, they will know they can do it too.”
What started as workshops during ArtPrize Education Days grew into programs in every preschool and Head Start classroom in Kent County. When schools went virtual, the team launched Wimee’s Words, a PBS show co-produced with Kent District Library. The brand has since expanded into books, toys, and lessons covering social-emotional skills, colors, vehicles, and even money basics.
“Our goal is to be the next Sesame Street for the digital age,” Hyacinthe said.
Inspiring and Empowering Ladies
Dominique M. Williams is the owner of Inspiring and Empowering Ladies, a book publishing company that focuses on self-help books for Black girls and women, encouraging them to walk confidently in their purpose.
Williams became inspired to start her journey as an author when her daughter was born.
“When I got pregnant with her, I decided to pick up my passion for writing,” she said. “I wanted to show her what it was like to go after your dreams.”