When Manny Gonzalez and Alvis Objio opened Crown Legends in Boston’s South End in 2022, it was a dream come true.”We are New England’s only New Era licensed hat boutique,” Objio said. “That means we create a lot of exclusive hats.”Owning a business was new to them both. Gonzalez described it as a roller coaster.”It started out as magic, a beautiful idea, and quickly turned into a nightmare,” Gonzalez said.”We’re learning on the fly,” Objio added. “Thankfully, you know, we have a lot of help along the way.”Some of that help has come from Suffolk University students.The Suffolk Entrepreneurship and Educational Development Collaborative program matches groups of undergraduate students and graduate students with local businesses.The student groups are advised by faculty and business professionals. Together, they offer guidance and technical support to business owners.Nick Vadala is an executive in residence at Suffolk.”We look at it from a holistic perspective,” he said. “Everything from business strategy to accounting to funding to marketing.”Chaim Letwin is the director of Suffolk’s Entrepreneurship Center.”It’s unbelievable professional level consulting services, but also doing good with your work,” Letwin said.The Downtown Paw on Pleasant Street in Malden is another SEED client.Owner Kate Cruikshank said her SEED team got her bank ready for a planned expansion.Both the business owners and the students reap rewards.”Being able to have a business where I grew up … and being able to contribute back to my community is important to me,” Cruikshank said.Mason Holt, who was part of the team consulting for Crown Legends, said the experience has been rewarding.”It’s not just like you’re in a classroom coming up with, like, a hypothetical scenario,” Holt said. “We have a real opportunity here to really help a business that we all believe in and we really care about.”Find more information about the SEED program here.
When Manny Gonzalez and Alvis Objio opened Crown Legends in Boston’s South End in 2022, it was a dream come true.
“We are New England’s only New Era licensed hat boutique,” Objio said. “That means we create a lot of exclusive hats.”
Owning a business was new to them both. Gonzalez described it as a roller coaster.
“It started out as magic, a beautiful idea, and quickly turned into a nightmare,” Gonzalez said.
“We’re learning on the fly,” Objio added. “Thankfully, you know, we have a lot of help along the way.”
Some of that help has come from Suffolk University students.
The Suffolk Entrepreneurship and Educational Development Collaborative program matches groups of undergraduate students and graduate students with local businesses.
The student groups are advised by faculty and business professionals. Together, they offer guidance and technical support to business owners.
Nick Vadala is an executive in residence at Suffolk.
“We look at it from a holistic perspective,” he said. “Everything from business strategy to accounting to funding to marketing.”
Chaim Letwin is the director of Suffolk’s Entrepreneurship Center.
“It’s unbelievable professional level consulting services, but also doing good with your work,” Letwin said.
The Downtown Paw on Pleasant Street in Malden is another SEED client.
Owner Kate Cruikshank said her SEED team got her bank ready for a planned expansion.
Both the business owners and the students reap rewards.
“Being able to have a business where I grew up … and being able to contribute back to my community is important to me,” Cruikshank said.
Mason Holt, who was part of the team consulting for Crown Legends, said the experience has been rewarding.
“It’s not just like you’re in a classroom coming up with, like, a hypothetical scenario,” Holt said. “We have a real opportunity here to really help a business that we all believe in and we really care about.”
Find more information about the SEED program here.
