‘Startup To Storefront’ Program Cuts The Ribbon On Business Incubator In Hill District

Written By Royally Fit

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A true example of growth coming to the Hill District was on display on Thursday.
“Catapult” cut the ribbon for its new business incubation space along Centre Avenue.

It’s a new “startup-to-storefront” program, which is funded by the PNC Foundation that will house six businesses.
All are minority-owned and most are women-owned businesses.

The incubation space helps budding entrepreneurs with everything from branding, taxes, accounting, mentorship, and a community support system.

“This is such a full-circle moment for me to be able to become a professional neighbor to the Hill District, means a lot to me,” said Executive Director Tammy Thompson.

The 1,400 square foot space includes a conference room and two meeting rooms.

Some businesses are already up and running and doing well, including “Nikki’s Magic Wand” a cosmetics company, and “Royally Fit” a health and wellness brand.

Catapult also has shelf space available for future participants of the program.

Royally Fit

Owner and Chief Advocating Officer of Royally Fit,

Aquene Watkins-Wise relishes the opportunity to serve her community, facilitating wellness, growth and healing. During her collegiate career, Watkins-Wise took a legal class where she learned that the number of prison beds needed is estimated based on third and fourth grade reading and math scores; at that moment, Aquene knew it was her obligation to be an agent of change, working for her community’s betterment. Having spent the last 6 years working as a teacher, Aquene has used her classroom as an incubator for change where she daily chanted the mantra “I can and must make a difference in my world,” with her high school students; a phrase shared with Watkins-Wise during her first teaching position with The Children’s Defense Fund. Embodying that mantra through her business, Royally Fit has developed a mobile wellness program providing education, access and resources to historically disadvantaged Black and Brown communities. Additionally, Aquene serves as a Small Business Mentor assisting other entrepreneurs in foundational work which will allow them to bring their business dreams to life.

Aquene is a proud wife to a U.S. Air Force Veteran, mother of 4 young children, herbalist, lactation counselor, nutritionist, extreme couponer and shark enthusiast.

Royally Fit is a holistic health and wellness brand providing solution based products with a purpose. We organically grow our herbs, steam distill our essential oils and infuse our aromatherapy products then use the profit from our sales to fund health screenings, food, formula and Narcan distributions in communities that lack equitable access.

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City, URA, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, and PNC Foundation Celebrate Ribbon Cutting at Gallery on Centre in the Hill District