The “No Pressure” Pitch Competition was hosted at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs on Friday, August 23, 2024! It was an exciting event that brought together budding entrepreneurs in Atlanta to showcase their business ideas. Imagine stepping onto the stage with zero stress—just pure passion and enthusiasm! A collaboration with ACT House and Black Ambition, this competition allowed participants to present their innovative concepts in front of a panel of judges and an engaged audience. Of course, a Founding 100 RICE Stakeholder was the grand prize winner! Louis Deas, founder of Try Deas & Other Treats, took advantage of pre-pitch sessions at RICE that truly paid off.
Now, let’s talk prizes! 🏆 The winners were able to walk away with some serious cash:
- Try Deas & Other Treats took home First Place: A cool $15,000
- Happily.AI won Second Place: A respectable $5,000
- That’s Besties was awarded Third Place: A solid $3,000
But wait, there’s more! The audience had a say too. Attendees were able to vote for their favorite presenter, and WrapALoc won an additional $2,000. It was truly a democratic bonus round that led to two crowd picks! An additional $2,000 audience choice award was given to Internal Health.
The judging panel included some heavy hitters:
- Jay Bailey, President and CEO of RICE
- Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition
- Shea Taylor, Vice President at JPMorgan Chase
- Theia Smith, Executive Director of Social Impact at Comcast
And what’s the mission behind all this? Well, Black Ambition, founded by none other than Pharrell Williams, aims to “close the opportunity and wealth gap” by supporting Black and Hispanic-owned businesses. They’re investing in high-growth startups led by these entrepreneurs, believing they’re shaping the companies of tomorrow.
RICE, is all about elevating Black entrepreneurs through mentorship, networking, and financial resources – creating a community where possibilities abound. We were happy to host Black Ambition and ACT House for the No Pressure Pitch competition! So, whether you’re dreaming up the next big tech startup or a revolutionary social impact project, events like the No Pressure Pitch Competition remind us that bold ideas matter. Kudos to everyone who participated!
Remember, RICE is Atlanta’s home for Black entrepreneurs so join us for our upcoming info sessions to learn how you can become a RICE Stakeholder and get uncommon access to a world-class curriculum that might help you take first prize next time. 🚀
