OUR IMPACT
RUSSELL INNOVATION CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS
THE RICE REPORT: VOLUME 1
RICE STAKEHOLDER STORIES
Providing Uncommon Exposure
Jamia Ramsey & Blendz Apparel
“Overall, being at RICE, networking with different people, and getting to meet these executives helps relation- ship-wise and makes me feel great. Before RICE, I really didn’t have an opportunity to meet a lot of people in the corporate world, in entrepreneur- ship, or in business. With RICE, there are always things going on. You always have an opportunity to meet great people.”
Jamia Ramsey, visionary Founder of Blendz Apparel, can attest to the fact that RICE is indeed a place where dreams take flight. Before becoming a RICE Stakeholder in 2022, Jamia and Blendz Apparel had already begun to revolutionize the dance industry with flesh-tone dance tights. Since joining the RICE community, Jamia has gained valuable exposure to the Fortune 500 corporations that reg- ularly engage with the RICE ecosystem. Through these experiences, Jamia has learned from some of the best, received direct assistance in building the Blendz brand, and deepened her understand- ing of her own business model and growth opportunities. For example, Jamia and a delegation of RICE entrepreneurs got a glimpse into the future of retail and met with Walmart and Procter & Gamble execu- tives during a visit to P&G headquarters in Cincinnati. While there, Jamia had the opportunity to contribute feedback and lend her voice as a Black entre- preneur. As a result of the exposure she received, Jamia came away inspired to position Blendz as a premium brand and get laser-focused on serving the needs of discerning dancers.
—JAMIA RAMSEY
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