Side Hustlers

Armed with a $15,000 start‑up grant, a number of the Hustlers set about promptly reshaping their businesses straight away. The injection of cash gives them the confidence to implement new strategies, purchase equipment and launch marketing initiatives without delay, allowing immediate progress on the ventures they’re trying to grow. Meanwhile, other participants are less eager to follow their mentors’ counsel, choosing instead to question or outright reject the guidance offered. This resistance creates a contrast within the programme, as some entrepreneurs embrace the advice and capital, while others hold back, firmly preferring to chart their own course despite the support available.

As the strain of the venture intensifies, several of the founders begin to show signs of cracking under the pressure. Their growing uncertainty and faltering confidence become increasingly evident, creating an atmosphere of tension that weighs heavily on everyone involved and it begins to affect the dynamics of the partnership. As a result, the investor, now frustrated by the deteriorating situation, loses faith in the hustler’s ability to achieve a successful outcome. Concluding that there is little prospect of future success, she decides to bring the mentorship to an end, cutting ties with the entrepreneur and she communicates her decision formally, ending the guidance she had provided.