For the last decade, the FedEx^® Small Business Grant program has recognized and championed small businesses around the country. Aside from the prizes, winning can help businesses reach a whole new audience and expand their professional networks. So it’s not surprising that, with each successive year, the number of amazing companies that enter the program has continued to grow—as has the level of competition. Even going through the process of entering the program can be beneficial because it can push companies to really think about, and focus on, what’s most important to them. And this can help them refine their goals and missions, and the way they talk about themselves.

Four winners of the 2022 FedEx Small Business Grant Program—CareHalo, Kulture Khazana, Muvez, and Niche Snowboards—gave us some insights into their own program experiences, revealed a few things that surprised them, and shared some advice for entrepreneurs who might enter the program in the future.

CareHalo is one of the first place winners in the 2022 program,  as well as the recipient of the FedEx® Distinction Award for healthcare. The company is a provider of a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) service for chronic care patients. Chronic illness is a topic that hits close to home for company founder Tamika Goins, who grew up in a riverside community in Louisiana. “The river parishes in Louisiana are nationally known as Cancer Alley and there’s so many people in my family that suffer from chronic conditions. So, I’m acutely aware of its impact,” Tamika says.

Like CareHalo, Kulture Khazana is a woman-led company. Founder Akruti Babaria started the business to help provide school-age children and their families with quality educational and play activities that promote Indian heritage. She wanted her own young son to know where his parents came from, to be proud of his roots, and to have empathy for people who come from different walks of life. However, Akruti found that there weren’t any good resources that could provide accurate information about her culture, or any that were stimulating or engaging enough for kids her son’s age. Four years later, her company is thriving and offers a growing range of books, games, and workshops that help families connect to their Indian culture.

Brothers Ryan and Eric Cruz are the co-founders of innovative footwear company Muvez, and they’re on a mission to revolutionize the way people look at the common house slipper. The brothers have created a unique design that features a removable sole that instantly transforms indoor slippers into fashionable outdoor footwear. The product’s unique design is unlike anything else on the market and has garnered numerous accolades, as well as a devoted—and growing—consumer base.

One of the important factors that led to their success in this year’s program was the support they received. “We’ve got to give a big shout-out to our community. As soon as we heard that we were in the Top 100 … it was time to reach out and tell everyone we need their help. And, like always, our community had our back,” says Ryan. That’s why he believes it’s important to start building that connection as soon as possible.

As far as advice for anyone thinking about entering the program, Eric had this to say: “Create a brand story. I think it’s undervalued and not enough companies do it.” From his perspective, business owners know their own stories, how they got where they are, and the challenges they’ve had to overcome. And experience has taught Eric that there’s a story in that, and people want to hear it and be motivated to support those companies.

Innovation is what drives every great small business forward. It requires an entirely new approach and the courage to redefine the rules—that’s exactly what Niche Snowboards did. Co-founded by Kirsten Kolter and Ana Van Pelt in 2009, the company is a sustainability pioneer in the snow sports industry and makes the world’s first zero-waste and fully recyclable snowboard.

Another part of the experience that stood out was reaching out to the community to ask for help in getting votes. Kirsten says, “It was uncomfortable because we’re doers and we don’t always ask a lot of others.” But both she and Ana felt excited and humbled at the amount of calls and messages of support they received. “It’s been this really beautiful symbol of we’re doing the right thing … it’s been a very emotional, uplifting thing,” says Kirsten.

One point that seems to resonate with these four program winners is the importance of communities. Whether it’s the local community in which the companies are located, or an extended online community of fellow entrepreneurs and professionals who share valuable advice and insights, communities can be a source of inspiration and motivation that can push a company to succeed and thrive—or to enter and win a competition like the FedEx Small Business Grant program. As Ryan of Muvez says, “People were telling me that they’re voting every day. It’s just special to be able to feel like we won this together with our entire community.”