# 25 Bough Street - A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORP Transform a vacant building in the heart of the city to empower the community! ## Elevator pitch The vision is to redevelop 25 Bough Street - currently a blighted, unused space of 15,194 sq ft - to an in demand public space enjoyed by and empowering the community. The project is supported by revenue generating use cases which address gaps and deliver positive, social impact. - Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/25.bough.street - Entity ID: wefunder:company:70950 - Last updated: 2026-06-14T05:02:50Z - Generated at: 2026-06-15T04:49:57Z ## Quick facts - Teach financial literacy, STEAM, health & wellness, career and self awareness to under served youth - Drive year-round programmatic initiatives for young girls and women empowerment overall. - Create an accelerator and incubator for innovators, entrepreneurs &freelancers of the future. - Provide a place for the celebration of culturally, diverse life events in a diverse city! - Introduce an XR Lab of mixed, virtual and augmented reality to the city and state. - Large, diverse and underrepresented market demand, hungry for the solutions that will be offered. - Campaign perk of naming rights on a plaque to be placed in the building with investments of $2k and more - We hope (but not guarantee) to yield an avg, annual net profit of $254k maturing to $885k annual net profit w/10 yrs ## Active fundraises - wefunder:fundraise:38197: 4(a)(6) successful (USD) ## Story See what 25 Bough will do for the community in 3D!25 Bough Street addresses the following:Lack of diverse spaces catering to city demographics: In a city and state which is brimming with culture, Providence, Rhode Island is substantially lacking diverse spaces. In Olneyville, most event facilities, and banquet halls have inflexible catering and little cultural fluency.Gaps in statewide education including Providence, Rhode Island: When Johns Hopkins released a report about the state capital’s public schools this summer, each line was more damning than the last.... The report went so far as to say there was “little visible student learning” happening in classrooms at all. (John Hopkins, 2019)Health & Wellness, Economics and Social: Life expectancy in central Providence neighborhoods is about 9 years less than that of residents from more socioeconomically advantaged neighborhoods of Providence. 50% of the factors that determine health have to do with economic and social conditions (State of Rhode Island, Department of Health, 2018) Business & Employment: Central Providence has much higher unemployment rates than the city and state averages (State of Rhode Island, Department of Health, 2018)With large–and growing–ethnic populations throughout the northeast, there is significant demand for a facility that can host these diverse groups in ways that understand their culture and needs. This project is driven by a desire to increase youth success, women empowerment, and accessibility to high-quality event spaces for diverse populations.  The mission for 25 Bough Street is to combine profitability with support for education, career advancement, and mental, physical, and financial wellness for youth, women, and historically underserved communities across different but integrated uses. The Multi-Purpose Function Hall will allow organizations and entities within 25 Bough to run programmatic efforts to groups as many as 250+. The event space will also usher in the celebration of many life events catering to rich traditions in a city brimming with culture but short on places to celebrate. This includes:Birthday PartiesQuinceañerasSmall Format WeddingsCorporate EventsEntrepreneurial Pop-UpsMore!Children are the future. That's why our Futures Hub will create brighter futures by equipping kids with the skills they need to thrive. It will power youth with critical, foundational information across six holistic zones of concentration including:1. Financial Empowerment2. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)3. Safety Zone4. Health & Wellness5. Career Awareness for Workforce Advancement 6. Self Awareness Some of the non-profit organizations which will be within the 25 Bough Futures Hub to drive this focus will include FLYI (the Financial Literacy Youth Initiative), Winner's Circle teaching Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality, The Impowerment Group teaching coding and programming, and R.I.S.E Women's Leadership conducting programming initiatives for women empowerment - specifically young women. Our Co-Working Space will provide office space to drive and accelerate the entrepreneurs of today and the future. The space will represent the diverse community that surrounds it, welcoming Black, Indigenous, LatinX, and People of Color to a safe space driving innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. There is currently no other space in Providence with the same focus! The Athletics Skills space will offer multi-sport skills training to advance speed, agility, quickness, and hand-eye coordination for athletes of all ages to build core strength, vertical, speed, and overall athleticism. The facility will have cables, plyometrics stations, Vertimax and other basketball shooting machines to develop premier student athletes. It perfectly caters to a growing youth sports market and integrates 25 Bough as a destination for the entire family! 25 Bough will have retail space with a total area of 1,002 sq ft.Retailers and businesses must be aligned to the mission of 25 Bough across financial empowerment, health & wellness, youth education, self and career awareness, women empowerment, and the overall community. Our Heritage & Cultural Experience (to be named later) will be an interactive, immersive space dedicated to culture, heritage, and the history of Black, African, Indigenous Peoples, LatinX, Cape Verdean, and more. It will cover the evolution, intersection, and integration from the past until the present day.The experience will draw people to the city and state as its own destination with the ability to captivate a wide range of audiences –especially the young. We envision it as a destination! Best of all, the experiences will be able to be programmed and changed throughout the year.25 Bough will house the headquarters of the 501(c)(3) R.I.S.E. Women's Leadership Conference (RISEWLC.com). R.I.S.E. already has and will continue its successful event at the convention center. With 25 Bough, R.I.S.E. will be able to utilize 25 Bough for year-round programs and initiatives for young women and girls.R.I.S.E is an incredible event of women empowerment bringing together women from diverse backgrounds, industries, and ages. Your support of this project will allow for programmatic efforts to be done at 25 Bough year-round.Idrees "Lanre" Ajakaiye is a Providence native and current resident who intimately understands the needs of the city because he spent most of his life calling it "home". His parents, West African immigrants, first landed in this area before buying their first home in a different section of the same city.  The founder has fond memories as a youth playing baseball in the same area Babe Ruth once played for The Providence Grays.    Lanre went on to graduate from nationally ranked Classical High School, the University of Rhode Island as an undergrad and received his Master's degree in International Marketing from Boston University. Additionally, he is an alumnus of Leadership Rhode Island, NUII 2017 where he was voted Class speaker by classmates and Director of the Team Providence Travel (Boys) leading youth from 5th to 8th grade. A stipulation of his program is you must take a financial literacy course he worked with community partners, The Financial Literacy Youth Initiative on.  Lanre is known for being a community leader and social entrepreneur dedicated to driving initiatives that impact youth, women, and the community overall.   He has 20+ years of delivering success across start-ups, non-profits and Fortune 50 firms. He recently received recognition as '2021 Who To Watch.'Floor Plan:Street Plan:Connecting Community Impact & Profitability:This financial information constitutes forward-looking projections that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These projections are not guaranteed and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them.Be part of something bigger than you and help us shape, transform, and celebrate the lives of youth, women, and the community! Click Here:  25 Bough Street ## FAQ 1. **Hi, I love what you are doing. What a great location! I used to work for a wonderful agency you may know - the Providence Center - and my wife ran the East Hope YMCA. The need is there and I think the community will support you. I am definitely going to invest so I'm just tryi...** - Hi Alan, Thanks for your question, Nice to connect with you. Yes, I am confident that I can get the additional capital needed. Regardless of how much we raise in this offering, we plan to cover the balance needed through some or all of the following additional funding sources: corporate sponsorships, foundations and grants; an SBA 504 loan (if needed); a City of Providence funding sources and programs; State of Rhode Island funding for buildings located in historic areas; Rhode Island Infrast... 2. **Hello is this in a opportunity zone? Is there tax advantages for investing. Were can i find financials on rate of return? When is this estimated to break ground. I am interested in investing.** - Great question Michael. Unfortunately, it is one block away from an opportunity zone but it is in a HEZ - Health Equity Zone as well as area that would be the focal point of CRA.Details and the agreement has all information around the offering. Q3 2022 to Q1 2023 is break ground estimate. 3. **How close is this to being fully funded?** - Thanks for the question Michael. We're in a good place and progressing well for the week or so we've been live. 4. **Are there any plans to replicate a successful model in other locations at some point?** - Hi Michelle, Thanks for the question. It is absolutely my hope that family and community empowerment models are replicated in other locations as a method of accelarating and transforming outcomes. ## Team - Idrees Lanre Ajakaiye (Founder and Visionary, 25 Bough Street) - Marcy Reyes (Advisor (Financial Literacy & Career)) - Shomari Husband (Advisor (Financial Literacy & Career Awareness)) - M. Quezada (Advisor & Consultant) - Henry Cruz (Advisor & Consultant (STEM)) - Jason Chopoorian (Advisor & Consultant) - John Abbruzzee (Advisor & Consultant) - Jamie Frank (Advisor (Attorney)) - Hilina Ajakaiye (Advisor (Women Empowerment / Young Women's Circle) ## Recent posts - 25 Bough Street is gaining momentum! (2023-07-14T23:34:37Z) - 25 Bough Street development is rolling and catching steam! (2022-02-26T13:03:20Z) - The last day to be part of a transformation and invest is today! We're so close to our goal and breaking $200k! (See the Vid) Have a great day! (2021-08-19T14:49:51Z) - Only 2 days left for you to be part of powering youth and a community by helping to revitalize 25 Bough Street... (2021-08-18T00:51:34Z) - Only 8 Days left to invest in this transformative, community development campaign! (2021-08-12T01:19:26Z) - Wooohoo!!! Progress feels good. We're headed into the final days of the campaign. Be a part of the change and invest ... (2021-07-30T19:50:34Z) - Investor Testimonials: (2021-05-05T14:09:12Z) - Arts, Culture & Tourism department visits 25 Bough Street & Neighboring development. (2021-04-29T21:18:45Z) - RISD collaborates on the 25 Bough Street Development! (2021-04-29T21:05:17Z) - Thank you to the City, Mayor & Councilwoman for the award and recognition of social impact / economic empowerment. 25 Bough will continue to uplift! (2021-02-26T22:38:15Z) - The Rhode Show interviews 25 Bough Street Founder, Lanre Ajakaiye. Vid https://www.wpri.com/rhode-show/raising-the-community-up-with-25-bough-street/ (2021-01-28T20:17:26Z) - Lanre Ajakaiye, Founder 25 Bough, named to Who To Watch 2021 by Providence Monthly. (2021-01-11T04:21:14Z) - Cortney Nicolato, President and CEO of the United Way and community partner, visits 25 Bough Street. (2021-01-11T03:01:41Z) - 25 Bough Street is featured in RI Monthly for December 2020 edition (2020-11-25T04:31:28Z) - City Council President & Area Councilwoman Sabina Matos visits the 25 Bough Street. (2020-11-25T04:25:02Z) ## Q&A - Q: I really admire your vision and plans for 25 Bough St. It's a great project which is needed for the community and I wish it a long lasting success. The one thing that has kept me on the fence about investing is the lack of a stated exit plan or an estimate of possible annual ROI for shareholders. If you remain holding this property for many years without paying any form of on-going revenue, investors will not see any return until a sale happens far into the future, which could be 10 years or more. - Q: Hello, if your planning to hold this property long term I would like to know what will be your primary source of income for the building? I'm concerned with tight profit margins for this type of venture. The location appears to be in a great developing area, however If your not breaking ground until 2023, it's going to take a while before investors will start to see the start of some ROI. When is your expectation for a grand opening for the public? - A: Thanks for the question. Income will be derived from retail space, co-working, event space, gym as outlined. Development will be completed by 2023 and grand opening expected to be in the same year. - Q: Are there any plans to replicate a successful model in other locations at some point? - A: Hi Michelle, Thanks for the question. It is absolutely my hope that family and community empowerment models are replicated in other locations as a method of accelarating and transforming outcomes. - Q: How close is this to being fully funded? - A: Thanks for the question Michael. We're in a good place and progressing well for the week or so we've been live. - Q: Hello is this in a opportunity zone? Is there tax advantages for investing. Were can i find financials on rate of return? When is this estimated to break ground. I am interested in investing. - A: Great question Michael. Unfortunately, it is one block away from an opportunity zone but it is in a HEZ - Health Equity Zone as well as area that would be the focal point of CRA.Details and the agreement has all information around the offering. Q3 2022 to Q1 2023 is break ground estimate. - Q: Hi, I love what you are doing. What a great location! I used to work for a wonderful agency you may know - the Providence Center - and my wife ran the East Hope YMCA. The need is there and I think the community will support you. I am definitely going to invest so I'm just trying to decide how much. I have three questions: First, I'm concerned about the start-up funding. If this raise does not hit its maximum, there are overruns, or revenue is slower to materialize, etc., are you confident that you could get the additional capital you need (and from where)? 2. I'm a little confused about investor return and/or your exit strategy. Could you clarify that? 3. There is probably a simple explanation but I was wondering about the $92 priced round - did that accomplish something from an accounting perspective, or was it a round that was terminated early? Thanks very much. Like I said, I'm in. - A: Hi Alan, Thanks for your question, Nice to connect with you. Yes, I am confident that I can get the additional capital needed. Regardless of how much we raise in this offering, we plan to cover the balance needed through some or all of the following additional funding sources: corporate sponsorships, foundations and grants; an SBA 504 loan (if needed); a City of Providence funding sources and programs; State of Rhode Island funding for buildings located in historic areas; Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (if needed); HUD programs; and/or other institutional financing. It is buy and hold. And for the $92 this was just an amount given for me to vest. I look forward to connecting with you. Thanks, Lanre. - Q: we you invest 100.00 what the investment.