More Gen Z and young adults than ever are choosing entrepreneurship over traditional corporate roles, drawn to the freedom, flexibility and challenge of building something of their own. For Lucky and his business partner Andrew, starting a renewable energy company, 410 Energy Solutions, stemmed from a shared desire for independence and control over their own destiny.
After five years of hard work, their Maryland-based solar and renewable energy company was already generating over $1 million in revenue, handling everything from home energy audits and battery backups to solar panel installations. But despite this milestone, they hit a common hurdle for growing businesses: they didn’t know what they didn’t know, and hiring high-priced corporate consultants was out of reach.
“We didn’t have anybody who was willing to help us that didn’t cost $10,000 or $20,000,” Lucky explains. “My partner and I didn’t go to business school…we just knew that we were doing some things wrong and some things right, but we didn’t have anybody business-minded to look in from the outside.”
Determined to find guidance, Lucky discovered Operation HOPE through Founder John Hope Bryant and the 1 Million Black Businesses (1MBB) Initiative on social media. Knowing he wanted to be part of the movement, Lucky reached out and was connected with Small Business Development Coach LaQuita Carrington.
Though the company had established revenue and employees, Lucky and Andrew struggled to secure funding from major banks. It turned out that the missing link wasn’t the business’s potential, it was their personal credit scores.
Coach LaQuita stepped in with direct, practical support. She conducted a thorough review of their personal credit, helping Lucky remove an old medical bill and helping Andrew resolve an erroneous student loan record. By aggressively paying down their credit card balances while clearing those negative marks, both partners saw their personal credit scores quickly climb to over 730 each.
At the same time, LaQuita connected them with a financial expert to review their business books. The expert helped CFO Andrew get tighter control over labor costs and rethink their subcontracting strategy to keep more profit in-house.
Equipped with a solid business plan and strong financial projections, LaQuita pointed them to opportunities with new banking partners. They opened new business accounts, secured a business credit card, and were approved for a $150,000 line of credit through a local Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
“She was wonderful from the start—positive, supportive, attentive,” said Lucky. “For the first time, I felt like I had somebody that was fighting for us.”
LaQuita was equally inspired by their dedication, calling them one of her “best success stories” and praising their patience through the process as they built strong financial habits and unlocked new funding opportunities. Using their new $150,000 credit line for targeted marketing, event booths and ad campaigns, the partners are moving away from subcontracting to operate as full-service prime contractors, setting a goal of 250 in-house sales a year.
For Lucky, scaling the company isn’t just about revenue, it’s about lifting up people around him.
Growing up, both partners were deeply influenced by family members who were entrepreneurs. Today, Lucky pays that inspiration forward. He actively mentors family members starting their own ventures, including his brother, who recently launched a photo booth business.
That same supportive mindset shapes the way they lead their solar company. Grounded in their core values of Transparency, Integrity, Commitment and Communication, they prioritize safety, open dialogue and work-life balance for their crew.
Lucky measures his personal success by the financial growth and stability of the people working with him. His driving ambition is to implement a 10% profit-sharing program to reward his team’s loyalty and hard work.
“I’m really excited to make a lot of money so I can give my team a 10% profit share,” Lucky shared. “I have envisioned an end-of-year party where I get to hand out the biggest checks these people have seen in their lives. To hand them a big check and say, ‘Thank you so much for being a part of this for so long.’ I’m very excited for that moment.”
Through Operation HOPE, Lucky and Andrew didn’t just get capital, they gained the strategic foundation and pathway to build a lasting legacy.
For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.