SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The inaugural class of Launch Savannah graduated Tuesday evening after a 12-week business accelerator program. Mayor Van Johnson served as the keynote speaker at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center. "We know in Savannah that preparation plus opportunity equals success," he said. "Launch Savannah was a way for us to provide that equity, to be able to take some aspiring folks who really wanted to make it happen and see how bad they wanted it," Johnson continued. "We are going to give them the opportunity to make it happen." Launch Savannah participants pictured with City of Savannah Economic Development Department staff, and Nick Palumbo and Dwayne Stevens from The Creative Coast. Launch Savannah is a partnership between the city, The Creative Coast and the Small Business Assistance Corporation developed in response to a recommendation from the city’s Racial Equity and Leadership Task Force. The series provided an elevated business education experience to participants. The inaugural class is Mahogany Bowers, Omar Akbar, Deborah Brown-Pullin, Justin Bisard, Amber Epperson, Andrea Flowers, Jennifer Gogo, Will Hornsby, Chariese McCoy-Hall, Todd Rhodes, Shameia Townsel, S. Katherine McKee, Tameka Lemon, and Jamal Lawrence. Each graduate had a chance on the stage Tuesday to showcase their passion, innovation and vision for their venture.