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Jamal Hermitt

Co-Founder and CEO, The Urban Pinnacle

About the Startup

The Urban Pinnacle (TUP) is a transformative startup that aims to bridge the gap between underserved communities and sustainable employment opportunities by providing comprehensive vocational training and support. TUP focuses on empowerment through education, job readiness, and community collaboration, emphasizing the development of both hard and soft skills.

Inspiration for the Company

What has been an evolving conversation between myself and fellow co-founder Jeriel Slay, the idea for TUP was born from personal experiences and challenges within a marginalized community. Recognizing the systemic barriers that often hinder progress for many in underserved areas, we envisioned a platform that could offer more than just job placement—focusing on holistic development and long-term success. With the opportunity to develop the concept into a startup by participating in Columbia Business School's Tamer Institute of Social Impact and Climate Change StartUps Work Workshop series, we were able to secure non-profit status and further build out the model.

Benefits from The Front Yard at Pace University

The Front Yard at Pace University has been instrumental in TUP's growth, providing a nurturing environment that fosters innovation and scalability. It has offered vital resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, enabling TUP to refine its mission and expand its impact. Specifically, with access to The Front Yard, as a StartUp In Residence, The Urban Pinnacle has gained team members who are interested in furthering the mission, a network of individuals looking to partner/collaborate from within their professional capacities, facilities to host the necessary meetings/functions that move us forward, and backing from a well-respected institution, which breaks down barriers even yet to be seen.

Experiences with The Front Yard

Our experiences at The Front Yard have been overwhelmingly positive, with the StartUps in Residence incubator playing a crucial role in streamlining TUP's operations and helping the startup navigate the complexities of business development in the social enterprise sector. So far, as previously mentioned as a benefit of our affiliation, we have secured our first major employer, our program director, and an assortment of professionals looking to either consult or advise us during our growth, all at no cost. This was the fruit that came from our initial event as a StartUp in Residence, not even a month into our official onboarding.

Challenges Overcome

Personal challenges faced in life, I believe, are the major catalyst behind TUP's mission. It was the specific challenge of rebuilding myself, post incarceration, that has made me believe that there is genuinely a need for this work to be done and there is a place for this work to become a significant solution to a societal problem: unemployment levels in America. One significant challenge TUP continues to face is the shifting of public and potential investor perceptions about the viability and impact of social enterprises, especially those focusing on systemic change within marginalized populations. With every collaboration, partnership, and successful placement, we continue to provide a use case that makes this challenge less of a significant one.

I advise aspiring entrepreneurs to stay committed to their vision, be ready to adapt, and deeply understand the needs of their target community.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

I advise aspiring entrepreneurs to stay committed to their vision, be ready to adapt, and deeply understand the needs of their target community. I would emphasize the importance of resilience and the willingness to learn from every situation—whether a success or setback.