New Venture Grads Start Their New Business Journey

DETROIT -- Two aspiring entrepreneurs are taking their first steps toward business creation after graduating from the New Venture program, presented by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center in Detroit.

New Venture is aimed at aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs through a 10-week business development class and more than 20 budding business owners completed the course June 5. Upon graduation, they were ready to start their business supported with MI-SBTDC consulting and research assistance.

Along with a Spanish chef as a partner, Elias Khalil is looking to open the first authentic Spanish tapas wine bar in Detroit. Ramonte Forte hopes to soon introduce The Security Wallet to the marketplace to help limit identity theft.

Khalil has found his location in the Cass Corridor and is working with an architect on the design of the new "La Feria" authentic Spanish wine bar. After he secures financing, he will open the only authentic tapas restaurant in Detroit.

Loosely translated, "La Feria" means "the fair" in Spanish and that is the atmosphere people can expect when the new venture launches.

"There will be nothing like (La Feria) in Detroit," said Khalil. "When people walk in, they will think they are entering Southern Spain."

Khalil says New Venture was critical in his planning of the restaurant.

"It helped me create a road map -- to put pen to paper -- to ensure that I did not miss any of the many aspects needed to start a business," said Khalil, who recently wrote the book 'Detroit's Cass Corridor,' part of the Images of America series. "The environment was beneficial as well, as I was able to discuss my business with other, like-minded people. I love the area and that is why I chose to open my restaurant there. This has been my vision, along with my partner, for more than 10 years."

Ramonte Forte knows that roughly nine million people have their identity stolen every year in the United States, and identity theft costs victims on average about $6,000. Forte wants to secure your identity and that starts with your wallet. The Security Wallet is a waterproof, combination lock wallet made from recycled plastic that holds up to 10 cards and cash. This fashionable yet safe wallet provides peace of mind and security.

Before New Venture, Forte says he did not have the confidence to launch this product.

"The economy made me skittish and I was not sure of the next steps I needed to take (to get started)," Forte said. "Lots of people have ideas for products or businesses but they don't know the steps. New Venture gave me the confidence to move forward and an understanding of the markets. Now I am finishing the manufacturing process and ready to hit the trade-shows to sell the wallet. Also, through networking, I found another person in the same class that has an engineering company and I met with him and he helped a lot. We want to use recycled materials."

The next New Venture program in Detroit starts Aug. 7. This program helps entrepreneurs evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning their own business. Interested entrepreneurs should call (313) 967-9295 or apply online.

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) is a statewide business assistance program that provides one-on-one counseling, training, and research support for Michigan small businesses. The Southeast Michigan region serves Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. It is headquartered at the Eastern Michigan University College of Business in the Center for Entrepreneurship with full service locations at the EMU Business Development Center at TechTown in Detroit, the Schoolcraft College Business Development Center in Livonia, the Oakland County Business Center in Waterford and the Macomb County Business Center in Mt Clemens.