Inside the Made in NYC Learning Lab: Building Skills, Telling Stories, and Growing BIPOC-Owned Businesses
When Laura Dadap of Djablo Sauce joined the Made in NYC Capital Readiness for BIPOC Makers program, her family-owned, Filipino hot sauce business was already thriving, but she didn’t see herself as someone who was “good with numbers.” For small businesses pitching to funders, owning that knowledge and presenting with confidence is key.
By taking part in the program—and sharing her learnings with newer makers in the classroom—Laura built the confidence to show others the business acumen she’d had all along. “People used to say I wasn’t a numbers person,” she said. “Now, at pitch competitions, they tell me that I’m someone who really knows my margins.”
What Is Made in NYC’s Learning Lab?
The Capital Readiness for BIPOC Makers program was the first workshop series of its kind and a standout in this year’s Made in NYC Learning Lab. The Learning Lab, now in its tenth year, offers free workshops and creative services to manufacturers and makers in the Made in NYC network, helping them tackle marketing challenges, sharpen their business tools, and tell more compelling stories.
Programs span from product photography and DIY video to marketing collaborations and digital marketing strategy—some of which even include advanced courses for returning participants. Many of the Learning Lab programs are delivered in partnership with external experts as well as Pratt Institute faculty.
By the numbers, the Learning Lab includes:
- 16 instructors
- 16+ distinct programs
- 6 Pratt Institute faculty and staff
- 18 outside consultant experts
Capital Readiness for BIPOC Makers: A New Path to Growth
Launched this year, the Capital Readiness program is a unique workshop series designed specifically for BIPOC-owned small businesses. Co-led by business development and entrepreneurial experts Kim Robinson and Gwynne Rukenbrod-Smith, the workshop series works to demystify capital access—from traditional bank loans to alternative financing strategies—and prepares business owners to take the next step toward investment and retail readiness.
Through interactive sessions, participants gain:
- A clear understanding of debt and equity capital
- Tools to build investment plans that fit their business
- Practical strategies to overcome mental blocks around fundraising
- Peer collaboration and resource connections
For makers like Laura, the program not only offered clarity on capital—it helped reframe what leadership can look like in business. Her story is just one of many.
Looking Ahead
As this year’s Learning Lab wraps up in late June, the Made in NYC team is already laying the groundwork for the next cohort. We’re reaching out to new instructors, gathering stories, and building on what worked to ensure that our next round of the Learning Lab continues to meet the moment for NYC’s maker community.
With each story like Laura’s, we’re reminded that small businesses don’t just need capital—they need confidence, community, and the right tools to tell their story. For BIPOC makers especially, having a dedicated space to talk openly about money, growth, and investment—without fear of judgment—is essential.
Laura sums it up simply: “There’s no chance for a small business to survive if you don’t have the right foundation and tools.” With next year’s Learning Lab program on the horizon, we’re committed to meeting real needs, sparking new ideas, and continuing to center the voices of NYC’s maker community.