Founder Spotlight: Marcellis Counts, Apiary in the Sky

What if you were told you could buy a plot of land for $1, what would you build? 
When Marcellis Counts heard about Newark’s Adopt-a-Lot program offering city plots for just $1 a year, he didn’t see trash, he saw treasure. While others walked past the vacant lots filled with debris, Marcellis, a Seton Hall University graduate and multi-generational Newark resident, envisioned something transformative. He decided to create a network of urban apiaries bringing bees, green spaces, and community healing to neighborhoods impacted by decades of environmental injustice. 

An urban beekeeping mission that goes beyond honey production
In 2020, Marcellis founded Apiary in Sky with a mission that goes far beyond honey production. His journey into beekeeping began while volunteering at a local organization offering beekeeping education that his mom suggested. He went on to find a mentor, purchase two hives for a starter colony for $175, and next came the necessary tools to maintain his colony that reached about $700; a significant start-up investment that he bootstrapped entirely on his own. 

Marcellis believes in aligning his business with issues so it can be a solution. He took inspiration from what Newark needed most: addressing inactive corridors, tackling litter, and creating green spaces that support mental health. His approach combines permaculture principles with community engagement, offering residents a chance to reconnect with nature. 

Apiary in the Sky operates across multiple touchpoints in the community: 

– Beekeeping workshops that bring sustainability education to the community 
– Consumer products that showcase quality honey and wax from the bees
– Converting vacant lots into productive green spaces

The impact is measurable and meaningful. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, about 35% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. With habitat loss causing pollinator decline, urban beekeepers like Marcellis are helping replenish these critical populations, while educating the community. 

Marcellis has a vision for the South Ward. He envisions moving beyond individual lots and transforming his neighborhood by creating as he says “sacred and safe spaces,” such as:

– Community gardens where residents can grow food
– Safe green spaces for nature connection
– Educational programs for raising awareness about environmental justice
– Honey, that has medicinal properties

The Founder Forward Difference
When Marcellis joined our Founder Forward Sprint Series, he was struggling with the vastness of the problem he was trying to solve. He didn’t want to let his community down. 

Our $5,000 unrestricted grant helped him pay down debt, purchase new equipment, and invest in expanding his product line beyond honey. To Marcellis, the $5,000, “represented more than income, but validation that we had a viable company and a mission worth supporting.”

Apiary in the Sky isn’t just making honey, they’re making access to nature affordable, preserving beekeeping knowledge, and creating lasting impact in the South Ward of Newark. This is what happens when we invest in founders who are community leaders, they understand that good business means success and community transformation. 

Additional information

Since 2016, Founder Forward has awarded over $860,000 to 125 founders like Marcellis, who are job creators and community leaders. 

Help us support the next 125 founders, so together we can build a community-centered future where founders anywhere can thrive. 

Donate now to be part of our success story and help us to Keep Moving Forward.