Last week, the Boston Public Market, with the help of Citizens Bank, announced the winners of its third annual Entrepreneurship Forum Incubator Competition.
Two local women- and minority-owned businesses will now get the opportunity to offer their goods at the Market for free after completing a rigorous six-seminar series and competing in a pitch competition. Another worthy company received honorable mention as well.
-
Boston has one of the country s best public markets, according to USA Today readers
Through sustainability, inventiveness, and hard work, these forward-thinking businesspeople are not only producing worthwhile goods but also fostering thriving communities. We are excited to collaborate with Citizens and provide these gifted entrepreneurs with a platform to develop, network, and prosper. The Boston Public Market’s CEO, Cheryl Cronin, stated.
This year’s winners, Ninawa Zero Waste Clothes and Melt in Your Mouth, will be given free rent for up to a year to sell their goods at the Boston Public Market.
Aelen Unan founded Ninawa Zero Waste Clothes, a sustainable upcycling company, after experiencing homelessness in 2019 and staying in a women’s shelter. The company specializes in repurposing old clothing, curtains, and bedding into eco-friendly items like tea towels, aprons, tote bags, and other kitchenware.
Silpa Pande started the woman-owned company Melt in Your Mouth, which specializes in creating handcrafted, all-natural desserts using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
Originating from Silpa’s wish to make lactose-free, nutritious sweets for her baby, the company soon broadened its focus to include desserts created with authentic, clean ingredients devoid of high-fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring, and preservatives. From classic vanilla to more internationally inspired options like rose cardamom, their product collection offers a wide range of flavors. Beginning in the fall of 2025, Melt in Your Mouth will be appearing at the Market once a week.
Honorable mention went to Wicked Bess, a minority-owned company that specializes in fruit vinegar drink mixers. Consequently, companies will be able to hold pop-up events at the Market.
The Entrepreneurship Forum is a two-part program that was started in 2022 in collaboration with Citizens with the goal of advancing education, access, and opportunity for small enterprises owned by women and minorities. Of the 24 small enterprises in this year’s cohort, over 61% were minority-owned and almost 85% were owned by women. These companies took part in programs that addressed important subjects like business growth, financial literacy, and successful go-to-market tactics.
In the future, in the fall of 2025, the fourth annual Entrepreneurship Forum powered by Citizens will take place. The deadline for applications was September 8, 2025, and they opened on June 26, 2025. Entrepreneurs who are interested should apply atbostonpublicmarket.org/entrepreneurship, the Boston Public Market website.
Annie Jonas writes for Boston.com as a community writer. She used to work as a freelancer at the Financial Times and as a local editor at Patch.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Receive all the information you require to begin your day, given directly to your inbox each morning.
