Fuel entrepreneurship. Amplify equity.
A small businesses growth program
Brand Sway™ transforms small business owners into confident, community-oriented leaders with the clarity and tools to generate awareness, grow revenue, foster job growth, and build a more resilient local economy.
Brand Sway™ is a 9-week, strategy-driven, video-supported, confidence-building program designed for established small businesses that are ready to clarify their positioning, attract
better clients, expand services, charge charge appropriately for the value they provide, and step boldly into their next stage of growth. With support from the City of Columbus (2024 – 2026), Brand Sway™ is expanding and seeking aligned sponsors who want to invest in the local small business ecosystem.
Our 2026 goal is to run 4 full cohorts and graduate 50 entrepreneurs, with a continued focus on business owners moving from the survival phase into stability and strengthened economic mobility. To reach that goal, and to keep program fees low for the entrepreneurs who need it most, we are seeking aligned sponsors and partners who are committed to fueling equitable small business growth, local job creation, and long-term economic development in our region.
Program IMpact
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Increased marketing and sales skills and confidence during sales conversations
- Economic mobility for under-resourced entrepreneurs
- Job creation and retention
- Build lasting peer support networks
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Strengthen the broader business ecosystem
- 2025 Impact Report
“A small business owner is really good at what they offer, but they’re not necessarily great at expressing that to prospects. What the Brand Sway program does is it supports folks in being able to tell their story and to use it to grow their business.”
Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta, Small Business Coordinator Economic Development Division, City of Columbus
For every dollar invested in Brand Sway, participants regularly unlock significantly greater value in new business, with results including rapid revenue growth, increased profitability, and expanded market reach.
- Revenue & Profit Multiplier: Participants consistently report that the investment in Brand Sway translates into substantially increased revenue and profits, often through price increases, improved confidence, and clearer messaging to a more targeted audience.
- Broader Economic Impact: Participants reinvest earnings to grow their business, hire new employees, support, and stimulate their local communities, amplifying the effect of each dollar across the local economy.
- Economic mobility for under-resourced entrepreneurs: This program serves microbusinesses with under 15 employees who are moving from the survival to thriving stage in business.
- Program Cost-to-Value: Participants receive a suite of custom services including strategic consulting, professional video assets, and community-based learning for program fees that are a fraction of market price, maximizing the value of each invested dollar.
Your story is the hardest one to tell. A business owner must battle imposter syndrome, self-awareness, and self-esteem issues all at once.
2026 ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
When you give small businesses training and ready-to-implement strategy, technical services, and community support, not only does their revenue increase, but so does their ability to stimulate the local economy and retain a work force.
Brand Sway is fiscally sponsored by Columbus Empowerment Corporation, a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide economic development through the creation of assets.
Small Business Champion $25,000
4 Opportunities Available
- Speaking opportunity to kickoff one of 6 modules during each cohort (live or pre-recorded)
- 2 video testimonials from participants sharing gratitude for the support from your company to support their entrepreneurial journey. Includes video marketing consulting from Video Story Studio.
- Co-branded scholarship for up to 2 participants of your choosing
- Dedicated spotlight in newsletter (1 x per year) and social media (2 x per cohort)
- Logo on registration site, slide decks, welcome emails, and participant onboarding dashboard.
- Quarterly sponsor report with impact stats and quotes
- Sponsored Slack posts (2 per cohort)
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
- Option to offer giveaway or participant benefit
Ecosystem Architect $50,000
2 Opportunities Available
- Featured/mentioned in all recruitment and marketing material
- Speaking opportunity at kickoff or closing of each cohort (live or pre-recorded)
- 5 video testimonials from participants sharing gratitude for the support from your company to support their entrepreneurial journey. Includes video marketing consulting from Video Story Studio.
- Speaking opportunity and display table at annual graduation dinner party with four dinner tickets
- Co-branded scholarship for up to 3 participants of your choosing (1 x cohort)
- Participation in a Cohort Content Party where participants stand in as “clients” for each other’s brand footage.
- Dedicated spotlight in newsletter (2 x per year) and social media (1 x per cohort)
- Quarterly sponsor report with impact stats and quotes
- Logo on registration site, slide decks, welcome emails, and participant onboarding dashboard.
- Sponsored Slack posts (4 per cohort )
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
- Option to offer giveaway or participant benefit
Economic Equity Partner $125,000+
1 Opportunity Available
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- Naming rights: “Brand Sway, presented by [Your Brand]”
- Featured/mentioned in all recruitment and marketing material
- Speaking opportunities at kickoff and closing of each cohort (live or pre-recorded) as well as the annual graduation dinner party.
- 10 video testimonials from participants sharing gratitude for the support from your company on their entrepreneurial journey. Includes video marketing consulting from Video Story Studio.
- Speaking opportunity and display table at the annual graduation dinner party with six dinner tickets
- Co-branded scholarship for up to 8 participants of your choosing (2 x cohort)
- Participation in Cohort Content Party where participants stand in as “clients” for each other’s brand footage.
- Dedicated spotlight in newsletter (1 x per cohort) and social media (3 x per cohort)
- Quarterly and annual impact report stats and quotes
- Logo on registration site, slide decks, welcome emails, and participant onboarding dashboard.
- Sponsored Slack posts (6 per cohort)
- Option to send a representative to each in-person brand video recording session
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
2026 Event-Based SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
Content Party Sponsor $20,000
1 Opportunity Available
- Headline sponsor of each Cohort Content Party where participants stand in as “clients” for each other’s brand footage. Your participation is encouraged and will receive b-roll video files for your brand.
- Dedicated spotlight in newsletter and social media post (x1/cohort)
- Logo on registration site, slide decks, welcome emails, and participant onboarding dashboard.
- 2 Sponsored Slack posts/ cohort
- Post-cohort impact report with impact stats and quotes
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
- Option to offer giveaway or participant benefit
- Listing in participant materials and website
Dinner Party Host $7,500
2 Opportunities Available
- Speaking opportunity at the annual graduation dinner party
- Display table with four dinner tickets
- Group social shoutouts about the dinner party
- Logo on digital invitation and registration pages
- 2 Sponsored Slack post
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
- Option to offer giveaway or participant benefit
- Group logo slide + thank-you mention during program
- Listing in participant materials and website
Dinner Party Table Sponsor $1,500
6 Opportunities Available
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- Event display table and two dinner tickets
- Group logo slide + thank-you mention during program
- Group social media shoutouts
- Listing in participant materials and website
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
- Option to offer giveaway or participant benefit
Small Business Ally $1,500
Unlimited Opportunities Available
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- Listing in the Brand Sway Graduate Directory
- Group social media shoutouts
- Listing in participant materials and website
- Option to offer digital resource, tools, or discounts to all cohorts
- Option to offer giveaway or participant benefit
Thank you for considering this investment in the entrepreneurs who power our region’s growth. Together, we can expand access, reduce barriers, and ensure that more small business owners have the strategic support they need to thrive.
PROGRAM RESULTS
Graduates are more confident in executing their marketing, collaborating with professionals, and engaging in sales. Participants also realized the following results:
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Highest reported gain in sales confidence.
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Nearly tripled their belief in their marketing’s ability to drive sales
%
Average increase in message clarity, brand positioning, and marketing effectiveness.
%
Successfully raised their prices while in the program.
%
Average increase in sales confidence
Meet the Facilitators
Owner and founder of
Video Story Studio Beth Menduni is a born storyteller. Recognizing the impact a story can have, she launched her company in 2016 to help other businesses tell their story in a meaningful and impactful way.
Casey Brown, founder and president of Boost Pricing
is a self proclaimed Pricing Geek helping companies grow their margins by giving them the confidence to be fearless with their pricing and get paid what they’re worth.