Six LA-based businesses share their elevator pitch with us
VSEDC celebrated Black History Month with an online event that included a 60-second Business Pitch competition for three Black-owned startups and three small businesses in Los Angeles County.
The six finalists pitched their businesses to a panel of reps from traditional and non-traditional lenders. The audience also took part by voting for their favorite overall pitch in the Audience Choice Award, which meant an extra $500 prize for the lucky winner.
How they were scored
The pitches were scored in the following categories:
- How well they told their story
- Value Proposition – how well they distinguished themselves from the competition
- How well they understood their impact on the market
- Whether they made a clear ask for a loan
- Did they close strong?
Let’s take a look at how the Small Businesses pitched in the videos below. (Spoiler: they were great!)
First Place $1,500 prize went to EnJunaya Canton, the owner of Zuhuri Beauty, a vegan skin and hair care line.
2nd Place $1,000 prize was Trevor Hoover from Wingopolis, a restaurant specializing in chicken wings with his grandma’s hot sauce recipe and side dishes.
3rd Place $500 prize went to Nickeya Hannah, the owner of Hygiene First, a business providing hygiene service vending machines. Since the event, Nickeya began preliminary conversations with the Black Cooperative Investment Fund, one of the lenders on the panel, about a micro-business loan.
If you like what you see, visit their websites and support a Black-owned business today.