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Startup Stories: The Chattery Co-Founders

Class is in session at The Chattery, Chattanooga’s woman-founded and black-led learning collective.

Since opening it’s doors in 2014, the center has offered over 1,000 workshops and provided entrepreneurs such as Kaleena Goldsworthy, founder of The Bitter Bottle, and Catherine Billings of Magnolia Fine Foods Co. the opportunity to showcase their skills to over 12,000 lifelong learners.

The Chattery was started by two female founders, Jennifer Holder and Shawanda Mason, who were brought together by a goal of finding new connections through education. The entrepreneurs brought their startup to life thanks in part to programs like CO.LAB and LAUNCH — a nonprofit that provides training courses for Chattanooga’s diverse entrepreneur community.

Holder and Mason offer pathways to learning beyond the traditional classroom. Students can choose from a variety of upcoming workshops ranging from “Mortgage and Homebuying 101” to “Learn Spanish through Encanto.”

Recently, Holder and Mason sat down to talk about what makes Chattanooga the best place for entrepreneurs. Watch The Chattery founders share their startup story, below.

Learn more about LAUNCH Chattanooga, here.

Learn what makes Chattanooga home to some of the best jobs in Tennessee, here.

Startup Stories highlights the success of diverse entrepreneurs in Chattanooga made possible through community institutions like the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Chattanooga Economic Partnership and LAUNCH.

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The views expressed in this article represent the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, its staff, or its board of directors. As the Scott L. Probasco, Jr., Distinguished…

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