People in some circles tend to associate the words "creative" or "creativity" with ease, but let me be clear: creative entrepreneurship doesn't come naturally. As someone who founded a now-defunct social enterprise called Brwntek, I can attest to the fact that it deserves just as much support as traditional entrepreneurship. Brwntek aimed to offer learning, networking and career development opportunities for Baltimore-born or -raised creatives, with a special emphasis on women and people of color. I wanted to create programs that could provide individualized coaching, access to freelance gigs and workshops to help creatives monetize and market skills, but I needed support to make those ideas a reality.

Unfortunately, the lack of resources and infrastructure is the number one reason why social enterprises fail, according to the World Economic Forum: Only 38.3% of them survive less than one year. Despite seeking mentorship and looking for existing programs, I wanted to create something that did not already exist in the ecosystem.

 

To this day, I still receive calls from creatives in Baltimore who struggle to connect with opportunities that can provide good money, housing and support for their ideas. Just last night, I spoke with someone who had to flee to LA due to a lack of comfort and understanding of opportunities that exist for creatives here.

Many people believe that business entrepreneurs take risks and start something from scratch, while creative entrepreneurs focus on using their creativity to create value within existing businesses. However, creativity doesn't just fuel established companies. Creative enterprises deserve personalized support, such as places that will amplify the stories of founders who have more creative missions or programs. For example, the Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network (BCAN) or the MICA UP/Start Venture competition, which we highlight in more detail in coverage below.