The McNees Accelerator program at York College of Pennsylvania helps business owners make their ventures a reality through business planning and funding.
Amongst the successes of the program is the 2024 winner, STEAM Sneakerheadz, a creative STEAM-focused education company melding sneaker and hip-hop culture to teach students science and the arts. Jakyra Simpson, a.k.a. Ky the Chemist, harnessed the program to transform her passion for creativity, science, and education into a groundbreaking business.
"Fusion Science," a New Approach to STEAM Education
Ky, the founder of STEAM Sneakerheadz, describes her business as “fusion science”—a way to connect science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) with sneaker and hip-hop culture. Her workshops and educational kits aim to revolutionize how students engage with STEAM concepts.
“I wanted to show the world that creatives and scientists' spaces can coexist," Ky explains. “It’s not just about learning science; it’s about making it culturally relevant and stimulating. Sneaker culture became my medium for doing just that.”
Her inspiration came during graduate school, where traditional teaching methods felt disconnected and uninspiring. Determined to create experiential learning opportunities, Ky developed STEAM Sneakerheadz as a way to bridge these gaps, using sneakers as both a cultural touchstone and an educational tool.
From Passion Project to Business
Although Ky had long been entrepreneurial, she started her entrepreneurial journey selling bubble gum in middle school to buy her first pair of sneakers. In college, she used this spirit with her training in chemistry to start Products by Ky, a natural skincare beauty business. However, STEAM Sneakerheadz presented Ky with a new set of challenges.
“I had this big idea, but I didn’t know how to structure it as a business,” she admits.
That’s where York College’s McNees Accelerator came in. The eight-week program provided Ky with mentorship, business education, and a supportive network to help her scale her vision. Through the program, Ky refined her pricing strategy, developed new products, and built confidence in her role as an entrepreneur.
In addition, the connections and lessons from the program helped her raise over $12,000 through grants and pitch competitions, including the McNees Accelerator’s pitch day, where she placed first and secured $3,500.
These funds helped her join the J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship incubator space and launch her STEAM workshops. Now, she is developing smaller, more accessible STEAM kits to bring STEAM Sneakerheadz to even more students and educators.
The Impact of the McNees Accelerator
At York College, the McNees Accelerator’s blend of mentorship and practical business tools was transformative for Ky. During the Accelerator, she learned key business concepts, such as pricing strategies and value propositions.
“I was only running my business for a couple of months, but still thank God that I did the McNees Accelerator. I realized that I was treating my business more like a hobby." Ky says.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Ky emphasizes the importance of building a network and tapping into available resources like the McNees Accelerator. She credits the program with teaching the value STEAM Sneakerheadz offers students and educators. She encourages attendees and business owners to explore their value proposition and use their network of peers and mentors to continue to hone their business. Also, Ky has found that the local resources provided by the YCEA and other local resources available to York County residents to be invaluable.
“You need to look into your city and find local accelerators, find a mentorship program… find all those things when you get to your city,” she says.
Her success demonstrates how the Accelerator empowers entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into impactful businesses. By combining mentorship, education, and a strong sense of community, the program is shaping the next generation of business leaders in York.
Registration is open for the Spring 2025 McNees Accelerator. Participants can earn up to $5,000 in funding on Pitch Day. The program is open to individuals and teams who are early-stage, as well as those with a history of entrepreneurship.
At the McNees Accelerator at the J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, aspiring business owners will learn topics, such as value proposition, marketing research, customer discovery, legal considerations, funding sources, cost structure, and estimating startup costs.
Interested parties can apply online for the accelerator.
