KRISTIN, YOU SPOKE WITH A BIG WINNER THIS EVENING. PATRICK, A HUGE WINNER WALKING OUT THE BAYER CENTER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH A $10,000 CHECK VENDORS HERE AS WELL AS THE PITCH COMPETITION. BUT THIS EVENT REALLY COMING DOWN TO SUPPORTING DIVERSE BUSINESSES. A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, 11 CONTESTANTS TAKING THE STAGE ONE BY ONE. NO TYPEKIT PITCHING THEIR BUSINESS FOR THE WISCONSIN BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. CEO RUBEN HOPKINS SAYS THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. SO WE HAVE BARBERSHOP AND BEAUTY SALONS. WE HAVE FINANCIAL SERVICES. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT’S BUSINESS. WHAT IS SO CRUCIAL ABOUT THIS EVENT? IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. WHEN YOU PUT RESOURCES INTO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL RISE TO THE OCCASION. A TEAM OF JUDGES INCLUDES ING GERRON JORDAN 12, NEWS ANCHOR GERRON JORDAN DECIDING THIRD PLACE. SECOND PLACE. Y’ALL READY FOR FIRST PLACE? AND THE WINNER EMPOWERING WEALTH FINANCIAL COACHING NOW WALKING AWAY WITH $10,000. HOW DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW? I FEEL AWESOME. THIS $10,000 IS GOING TO MULTIPLY BECAUSE I’M GOING TO INVEST THAT INTO OTHER BLACK BUSINESSES. AND IN WISCONSIN, IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT SPORTS. FORMER PACKERS PLAYER ANTONIO FREEMAN SUPPORTING THE EVENT. THREE WORDS. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS EVENT? TOTALLY FLIPPING AWESOME AND HIS TEAM PACKERS IS BACK ON THE ROLL. SO GO PACK, GO. THERE YOU GO. KRISTIN. OTHERS LANDED MONEY IN THAT COMPETITION AS WELL. YES. THREE WINNERS AWARDED $20,000, $33,000 FOR THIRD PLACE. $7,000 FOR SECOND PLACE.
Pitch competition winners awarded $20,000
Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce held showcase to highlight diverse businesses
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Updated: 10:20 PM CST Dec 8, 2023
Eleven contestants took the stage one by one, pitching their business for the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce Black and Diverse Business Showcase. CEO Ruben Hopkins says there's a little bit of everything. "We have barbershops, beauty salons, we have financial services," Hopkins said. "It's about the people. When you put resources into the people, they will rise to the occasion."A team of judges, including 12 News Anchor Gerron Jordan, decided third place, second place and first place. The top prize of $10,000 went to Empowering Wealth Financial Coaching. It's a business that provides financial wellness training in the forms of budgeting and investing. "I feel awesome," said Veronica R. Powell, founder. "This $10,000 is going to multiply because I'm going to invest into other Black businesses."Former Packers player Antonio Freeman supported the event for the second year in a row. "Totally flippin' awesome," Freeman said, describing the showcase. The three winners received a total of $20,000. Third place received $3,000, second place received $7,000 and first place received $10,000.
MILWAUKEE — Eleven contestants took the stage one by one, pitching their business for the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce Black and Diverse Business Showcase.
CEO Ruben Hopkins says there's a little bit of everything.
"We have barbershops, beauty salons, we have financial services," Hopkins said. "It's about the people. When you put resources into the people, they will rise to the occasion."
A team of judges, including 12 News Anchor Gerron Jordan, decided third place, second place and first place.
The top prize of $10,000 went to Empowering Wealth Financial Coaching. It's a business that provides financial wellness training in the forms of budgeting and investing.
"I feel awesome," said Veronica R. Powell, founder. "This $10,000 is going to multiply because I'm going to invest into other Black businesses."
Former Packers player Antonio Freeman supported the event for the second year in a row.
"Totally flippin' awesome," Freeman said, describing the showcase.
The three winners received a total of $20,000. Third place received $3,000, second place received $7,000 and first place received $10,000.
