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Ten Chicago-area entrepreneurs will compete for funding Saturday in a “Shark Tank”-style contest.
The sold-out event, held at BMO Tower in the West Loop, is the fifth annual pitch contest by Sunshine Enterprises, a Chicago-based nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities. .
The 10 finalists include a variety of companies, from a gluten-free snack company to an online video assignment platform for teachers. The winner will receive a total of $17,500 in cash and prizes, including $10,000.
But the event is “more of a community celebration than a competition,” said BJ Stewart, executive director of Sunshine Enterprises. “It’s more than entrepreneurship. It’s about making Chicago a better place to live for all of us.”
The competition, which begins at 2 p.m., can be watched live online at sunshineenterprises.com/2024-pitch-competition.
The finalists are graduates of Sunshine Enterprises’ Community Business Academy. The academy is her 12-week course that provides business planning and management training for a nominal fee, but scholarships are also available. The nonprofit says more than 1,500 people have taken the program since 2013.
Here is a list of the 2024 finalists and their businesses:
- Lisa Marsh: Gluten-free snacks such as granola from Marsh, creator of Ms. P’s Gluten Free, are available at grocery stores like Whole Foods and Mariano’s. Marsh does not use any processed sugar or genetically modified ingredients.
- Leclesia Aikins: Dawning Day Creations is an African-centered boutique that sells clothing, jewelry, accessories like headwraps, and body care and wellness services. Aikins has a store at Fox Valley Mall in Aurora and an online store.
- Clement Townsend: Founder of VideoPro Learning. It is an online platform that allows teachers to create multimedia assignments and video projects that can be integrated into existing subjects.
- Jasmine Johnson: ParentCo, a manufacturer of electrical outlet safety covers, has a patent-pending design that screws onto wall plates.
- Barbara Adjoa: Point Blank Period Pantry provides free menstrual products, hygiene resources, and reproductive education to women in need.
- Taylor King: Procaffeinated CoffeeHouse is a mobile cafe that provides personalized coffee catering services for weddings, corporate events, and other gatherings.
- Dana Todd Pope: Women’s Live Artist Studio is a collective art gallery located on Navy Pier that showcases the work of more than 30 diverse local women artists. Live art demonstrations will also be held daily.
- Brian Johnson: Emma Health is a voice-activated personal health and wellness app that collects and coordinates information across different healthcare apps.
- Kara Yatkosk: Uplifting Melodies Tutoring is a subscription-based online community for adults to improve their Spanish.
- Rabecca Gaspard: Labecca Ann Artistry offers on-the-spot private makeup lessons from professional makeup artists to help clients learn how to get ready in under 10 minutes.
The winner of last year’s pitch contest was Janice Newson, founder of plant-based braided hair brand Lillian Augusta Beauty. Her products are made from corn-based materials rather than polyester blends, which means your hair weighs less and is less itchy than synthetic hair. It also looks similar to human hair and is environmentally friendly, Newson said.
Janice Newson is the founder of Lillian Augusta Beauty, a plant-based hair brand.
When she won, Aldo received an immediate response. Janet Taylor (20th place), who served as a judge for the contest.
“Aldo. Taylor was especially excited because she used to wear braids but stopped because of itching and allergic reactions. She said, ‘Where have you been for the last 10 years?’ ” Newson said. “She was excited that someone was tackling this problem in a sustainable way.”
Newson, 28, began working on the patent-pending technology in 2020 while earning a master’s degree in conservation from the University of Michigan. She created the prototype in her fiber studio at the university with the support of mechanical engineering students.
“The idea was born out of frustration,” Newson said. She was experiencing braids that were so itchy and heavy that it hurt her neck.
The Humboldt Park native used her $11,000 prize money to fund consumer testing. The hair is available for pre-order on the company’s website, with shipping starting July 1st.
Lillian Augusta Beauty will also move into a new space in Woodlawn next month, with plans for a grand opening later this year. The space will host hair braiding demonstrations as well as discussions about sustainability and health.
