Wins Ignite Buffalo People's Choice Award
43 North, a non-profit organization based in Buffalo NY, created a competition called Ignite Buffalo where they awarded a total of $1 million dollars through their startup competition for small businesses.
Out of 477 small businesses Get Fokus’d Productions was selected as one of the 50 to give a two-minute pitch before a panel of 10 judges who asked five minutes of questions about the business and about why we deserved the grant. Following this process, the applicants were narrowed down to 27! From there Get Fokus’d Productions excelled to one of seven participants!
“As I stood before an audience of over 300 people, I received the vote for the People’s Choice Award and it’s with great joy that I announce to you that my company, Get Fokus’d Productions was one of three to receive the top grant from Ignite Buffalo. “ -Aitina Fareed-Cooke (Owner and Creative Director of Get Fokus’d Productions)
About Aitina Fareed-Cooke
Aitina is an award-winning photographer recognized by 43 North/Ignite Buffalo (Ignite Buffalo’s People’s Choice Award 2018), CEPA Gallery-Exhibition Award 2017, Buffalo News (2017), the National Society of Leadership & Success-Excellence in Teaching Award 2013, who has also been featured in Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine (2018), Upstart New York (2018), Challenger Newspaper (2018), National Young Audiences Emerging Leaders for 2015 and Entrepreneurship in the Arts (2013).
Aitina’s original work has been exhibited in CEPA gallery, Jamestown Community College’s Weeks Gallery, and Blue Plate Studio (Western NY). Adding to her extensive resume, she has served as a “Say Yes” Community Schools Navigator, Young Audiences WNY Education Coordinator, CEPA Gallery Teaching Artist, Youth Services Site Coordinator with the CAO N.U.R.T.U.R.E. Academy, Mentor with the Heart Foundation and Gateway Longview and much more.