Fifteen diverse Arkansas entrepreneurs will be making a big pitch for serious prize money.
On Thursday, June 4, these individuals will be taking part in The Big Pitch, a virtual pitch competition aimed at diverse entrepreneurs. Hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, The Venture Center and Venture Noire, this competition challenges entrepreneurs to give a two-minute pitch, followed by a one-minute question-and-answer session with a panel of judges.
In total, the cash prize pool amounts to $30,000, which is spread across three categories. The first category is for Arkansas companies that have between $1 and $25,000 in annual recurring revenue, and the prize for this category is $5,000 cash. The second category is for companies with $25,001 to $50,000 annual recurring revenue, and this category’s prize is $10,000 cash. The third category is for companies with $50,001 or more in annual recurring revenue, and this prize is $15,000 cash.
The 15 entrepreneurs selected to participate in The Big Pitch include Jennifer Beasley, CEO of The Learning Tree; Lonzell Blackmon, CEO of Blackmon Care Services; Vashonda Eason, CEO of Eason Counseling & Associates; Kristian Edwards, CEO of BLK + GRN; Candice Graham, founder of Hair Couture; Chris James, CEO of The Roots Art Connection; Kyjione King, CEO of Kiki Dance Studio & Wellness Center LLC; Angela McGhee, CEO of Definitive Formulations LLC; Jerry Mitchell, CEO of Jet King International; Latasha Moore, CEO of Tasha Teaches Spanish; Edwin Ortiz, CEO of Luncher; Lydia Page and Chemia Woods, founders of Love Yours Box; Derrick Reives, CEO of Career Quo; April Roy, CEO of FemPAQ; and Charu Thomas, CEO of Oculogx.
There will be five participants in each of the three categories. CareerQuo, FemPAQ, Love Yours Box, Jet King International and Tasha Teaches Spanish will be in Category 1. The Category 2 participants include Blackmon Care Services, Definitive Formulations, Kiki Dance & Wellness Studio, The Learning Tree, and The Roots Art Connection. The Category 3 participants will include BLK+GRN, Eason Counseling & Associates, Hair Couture, Luncher and Oculogx.
The panel of judges includes Antwan Phillips, Attorney, Wright Lindsey Jennings; Mimi San Pedro, Chief Strategy Officer, The Venture Center; Doris Davis, Senior Marketing Manager for Business Member Acquisition, Sam’s Club; Kalebyra Mitchell – Tax Administrator, Frost, PLLC; and Dr. Chris Jones – Executive Director, The Innovation Hub.
The Big Pitch will be held virtually on June 4 from 3-5 p.m. To register for the event, click here.
READ MORE: Virtual Pitch Competition Designed to Boost Entrepreneurs of Color During Crisis
