Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Rising Tide Capital

More kudos for Jersey City’s Alfa Demmellash.

The gripping story of Demmellash, an 30-year-old Ethiopian immigrant who started Rising Tide Capital, a business devoted to nurturing entrepreneurs, especially in poor and minority communities, is featured in today’s Star-Ledger.

Demmellash was 12 when her mother, an Ethiopian refugee, saved up enough money to bring her to Boston. Watching how hard her mother and grandparents worked lit a fire in Demmellash to succeed in her new country. But she craved more than personal success. She wanted to help others rise up.

She met her husband, Alex Forrester — the son of Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester — at Harvard University. Together they formed Rising Tide Capital five years ago to teach budding entrepreneurs how to raise money and spend it wisely.

This past summer, Demmellash was named a CNN Hero. She was also invited to the White House where President Obama honored her and other community crusaders. He even pointed her out in the audience. She later appeared on  “Larry King Live” to discuss Rising Tide Capital and how entrepreneurialism transforms communities.

Last week, Demmellash helped to kick off Global Entrepreneurship Week in Jersey City, which brought together thousands of business-savvy individuals to network and learn.

-The Jersey Journal