Our new series, “Where are they now?”, was created to highlight the success of businesses that took part in the Launch Lenawee program. As a service within our Entrepreneur Series, Launch Lenawee supports and develops entrepreneurs and small businesses in Lenawee County by providing access to business development services, mentorship, business loans, and networking opportunities.
Where Are They Now? W4 Entertainment
Jacob Wilson discovered he had a knack for running audio at a very young age, and now he has turned that passion into a business.
“When I was 12, I was in charge of the sound room at my local church,” Wilson said. “And I started DJing at 18.”
In 2018, he launched W4 entertainment, an event management business also handles audiovisual, DJ, and photo booth services for events of all sizes.
“If I can’t do it, one of my partners can,” Wilson said.
Launch Lenawee
Wilson participated in the 2018 Launch Lenawee program and attributes the networking aspect as one of its key benefits.
“It introduced me to other like-minded businesses who were looking to grow and start companies the same time as me,” Wilson said.
He noted that the program challenged the way he thought about running a business.
“The connections and resources allowed me to create a foundation for my company rather than being as free-spirited,” Wilson said.
Launch Lenawee helped him push his side-gig into a full-fledged business.
“I don’t know how seriously I would have ended up taking my company without it. The program showed me that this is what I want to do,” Wilson said. “I’ve always had dreams for it but doubted myself. Having others push me went a long way.”
Community Spirit
While Wilson loves that he’s traveled with his business and worked with big artists like Drake Bell and 3OH!3, he especially enjoys working with educational organizations. He has provided sound for a music festival at Eastern Michigan University, and for events at Siena Heights University.
“Truly the best part of it all is the people I’ve gotten to meet,” Wilson said. “Nothing compares to the happiness you can bring to crowds of people.”
Being part of his local community comes easy to Wilson – it’s how he was raised.
“I’m a people person, I grew up with my parents always volunteering and teaching me to be part of the community,” he said. “I’m not focused on profit, but on the community and the spirit of bringing people together for events.”
Pandemic Perils and the Future
As a business centered around public events, W4 saw some downtime during the pandemic. While he received some assistance from the community to stay afloat, Wilson used the opportunity to really take time and pivot his business model.
“We really transitioned into event management, which has been the bread and butter of the company,” he said.
And events slowly started popping up again earlier this year.
“We’re looking at the light at the end of the tunnel,” Wilson said. “But we’re not there yet.”
One of the biggest changes since W4 opened is that he is focusing on partnerships rather than trying to do it all for events.
“I’m really starting to work with other vendors to provide the best end-experience for customers,” Wilson said. “My goal is to provide a good experience and shared resources with other companies. It’s all about bringing people together.”
As for the future, Wilson hopes to add an educational program to his business.
“I want to provide real-life experiences, help support the community and develop new talent,” he said.
He already contributes to this ideal by participating as a mentor for the Launch Lenawee program to share with others what he has learned along the way.
“I highly recommend the program, even just for connections alone,” Wilson said. “Just being in that classroom with other new business owners is really where you benefit the most.”
And participants will benefit from his experience as well since Wilson will be the facilitator/instructor for the next session of the Launch Lenawee program.
Visit https://www.w4entertainment.com/ to learn more about W4 Entertainment