Oshkosh stylists open Alpha Barbershop with help from the Venture Center.

When Kayla Holzem and Cadi Raddatz decided to open a salon, they knew it should feel welcoming for everyone. “We heard for years from male customers that they never felt comfortable at traditional salons,” explains Holzem. “There weren’t many places in Oshkosh for men to go.”

In October 2019, the duo opened Alpha Barbershop, a trendy spot near the UW-Oshkosh campus with seven stylists. While Alpha specializes in men’s hair, it also provides services for women and children.

Before launching their business, Holzem and Raddatz completed the E-seedTM program through the Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College. “Owning a salon was always our dream, but we knew we needed that class,” says Raddatz. “E-seed showed us the ins and outs of what’s involved with opening and running a business.”

The hard work is paying off. “Things are going great,” says Holzem. “Our staff loves working here, and we’ve been getting great feedback from customers!”