OUR TEAM

Nova, a visionary in apparel design, has created best-selling collections for Fortune 500 companies in New York City, including Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors. Her meticulous attention to design and detail propelled her career forward, leading to a role as the Global Manager of Product Development, where she oversaw sourcing, international imports, and manufacturing for both corporations and small businesses.

She now serves as a Business Advisor for the Minority Business Development Agency Advanced Manufacturing Centers (MBDA AMC), a federal government initiative under the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

In this role, she supports socially and economically disadvantaged businesses nationwide by providing funding assistance, certifications, contracting opportunities, and business advising to accelerate their revenue growth and scalability.

Inspired by the challenges she witnessed, Nova founded Nova Raft Business Advisors, a state and federally certified contractor offering business development classes, workshops, and one-on-one advisory support to help entrepreneurs strengthen their operations and achieve their goals.

To further her commitment to women's economic advancement, Nova completed Cornell University’s Women's Entrepreneurship Certificate Program, participated in accelerators, and won pitch competitions. As a philanthropist, she has worked as a Project Manager for the nonprofit 48in48, helping women entrepreneurs develop and launch their websites in just 48 hours, among other initiatives.

Nova is currently developing a unified solution: one site, one login, and one platform to simplify the search for grant funding.

As a visionary CEO and philanthropist, Nova is bridging the gap between businesses and funders by leveraging technology to drive financial success and contribute to economic development.

Cara is the Food Entrepreneurship Director at CitySeed. She has expertise with writing and winning grants. With 17 years of experience in the food and beverage industry.

She is currently leading the development of Little Lion Collective in New Haven, CT. Little Lion Collective is a mobile wine, mocktail, and music bar that unites people and makes wine approachable.

Brooke is the CEO of BO.ON a high-end USA fashion production company that handles everything from sample creation to full-scale production for luxury brands.

With her expertise in managing large budgets and scaling operations, she keeps logistics running smoothly, ensuring every project stays on track and meets deadlines. Her company specializes in sourcing, pattern-making, quality control, and manufacturing. Brooke leverages her Turkish roots and bilingual skills to provide premium production services through a trusted network in Turkey that delivers world wide.

Business Relationship Manager

MBA - Marketing & Marketing Management

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. System Modeling and Analysis with a focus on Statistics and Data Science.