Rachel Zwipf | Clean Chicks & Lily Springs

Erica Reetz • August 19, 2022

Rachel Zwipf never dreamed of being an entrepreneur. Her journey started out of necessity.

Rachel moved to Charlotte, North Carolina nine years ago as a single mother. Her need for a steady income and her desire to spend time with her two sons led her to work in the cleaning industry, and she began posting listings for her services on various websites.

After six months, the business demand was too much to keep up with on her own, and Rachel’s entrepreneurial journey was about to take off. She hired her first employee and began to develop the Clean Chicks brand identity, but she didn’t stop there.

Rachel noticed that her hands were becoming extremely dry and cracked from the clearing products that she used. “It was not good for my body,” she said. “I started doing my research, and I looked into any Black-owned cleaning products that I could buy and support. I couldn’t find one, so I thought maybe it’s my time to create this, and Lily Springs was born.”

Lily Springs is Rachel’s line of natural cleaning products. Rachel created her new products through a process of research, experimentation, and client feedback. She thought through every aspect of the products – developing the labeling, creating the scent, and even considering the customer experience.

Rachel wants to delight her customers, so she includes freebies and inserts in every package. “If it brings me joy, I’m pretty sure it will bring somebody else joy,” she said.

The quick growth of Clean Chicks and Lily Springs meant that Rachel had to figure out a lot of things on the fly, but to continue to grow and build a sustainable business, she knew she needed support.

To learn more about entrepreneurship, Rachel first went through a program with the Women’s Business Center of Charlotte. Then, she applied for The Boost Pad where she has appreciated the training and the opportunity to bounce ideas off of other business owners.

Rachel believes that if she would have had The Boost Pad earlier in her career, she wouldn’t have had as many stressors or complications. She explained, “Lack of understanding leaves you unprepared.”

The training and encouragement have helped Rachel move her business forward. It has given her the confidence to push herself and pursue new opportunities. She said she often thinks, “I may not be comfortable, but let me go and do it.”

With a sound business structure in place and a network of support to grow her business, Rachel is furthering their reach by partnering with janitorial companies for distribution, and by entering the government contracting space. She is also expanding her offerings to include white glove service for Airbnb locations.

Rachel is also passing down the lessons she has learned to others. Her 10-year-old son, Jackson, works alongside her in Lily Springs. Their partnership reflects the abundance mindset she brings to her entrepreneurial journey. ”I think more entrepreneurs really need to give back to other entrepreneurs, to be a support. I believe that there is so much money and abundance out there that you don’t need to stifle resources or clients. Let’s truly help each other out.”

To learn more about Clean Chicks or to purchase their Lily Springs natural cleaning products, visit www.cleanchicksrock.com.

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Founder Stories & Startup Wins — The Boost Pad

The Boost Pad | April Spotlight: From Momentum to Milestones

By Mark Babaran • April 28, 2026

What happens when The Boost Pad, a Charlotte-based nonprofit, joins forces with two remarkable interns from different universities across our region? Something powerful begins to take shape. Fresh ideas meet meaningful purpose. Innovation meets impact. And everyone involved grows in the process. That’s exactly what we’ve experienced with Colette Dwyer (Davidson College) and Nevyn Brown (UNC Charlotte) —two emerging leaders whose work is already translating into real-world results. 🚀 Founder Win: Nevyn Brown | FundU Execution creates opportunities—and Nevyn is a clear example of that in action. Nevyn recently secured 1st place at UNC Charlotte’s 49-Minute Pitch Competition, earning $8,000 in funding for his startup, FundU. FundU is a mobile platform that enables nonprofits to raise money by partnering with local businesses—transforming everyday purchases into a scalable fundraising engine. At the same time, it helps small businesses generate consistent customer demand. What made FundU stand out wasn’t just the idea—it was the clarity behind it: A clearly defined problem across two markets A solution that creates value for both nonprofits and businesses Early traction with pilot partnerships A model designed to scale across campuses and cities Beyond his venture, Nevyn contributes to The Boost Pad through marketing, social media, and technical strategy—bringing a data-driven and execution-focused mindset to everything he builds. With a launch planned for late May, FundU is already moving from concept to real-world impact. 🌱 Founder Win: Colette Dwyer Impact isn’t only built through ventures—it’s also built through research, communication, and the ability to translate ideas into meaningful action. Colette, a student of Biology and Hispanic Studies at Davidson College, recently presented her original research at the Association of Southeastern Biology Research Conference—an experience that sharpened both her scientific thinking and her ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity. Her work focused on prairie restoration practices and their application to sustainability. Through a year of independent research, she established baseline findings that contribute to future environmental studies and sustainable interventions. By tracking emerging trends and presenting them to the Davidson Biology Department and conference judges, Colette demonstrated both analytical depth and clarity in storytelling. Her work was recognized with the Best Poster Presentation Award , a testament to both the quality of her research and her ability to translate technical insights into compelling narratives. At The Boost Pad, Colette has extended these same strengths into storytelling and collaboration—contributing to newsletter and blog creation while helping build an alumni network alongside Nevyn Brown. Her ability to connect research, communication, and community-building reflects the kind of multidimensional leadership we aim to cultivate. 🔑 Where Mindset Becomes Action These moments reflect something deeper than individual wins. They represent the shift we focus on every day at The Boost Pad: From ideas → execution From learning → application From vision → measurable progress This is where entrepreneurs stop asking “What should I build?” …and start proving “Here’s what I’m building—and why it matters.” ⚡ Building What’s Next From expanding partnerships to developing new talent, everything we’re doing is centered on one goal: Creating real pathways for entrepreneurs to build, grow, and succeed. What we’ve seen with Colette and Nevyn is exactly what The Boost Pad is built for. Bringing together talent, opportunity, and real-world execution to create meaningful outcomes—for founders and for the communities they serve. And if this is only the beginning, we’re excited to see what they build next. The Boost Pad Team Building entrepreneurs. Strengthening communities.