Three Local Entrepreneurs Win Cash, Accolades at The Venture Center’s 2021 Pitch N Pint
Held in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week, the pitch competition featured local entrepreneurs, judges, and a rowdy crowd of supporters
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Nov. 12, 2021 – Kissa Kimble from Elite Recruiting won top prize at 2021 Pitch N Pint, produced by The Venture Center and its partners from Little Rock Regional Chamber, Arvest, Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center, and Arkansas Money & Politics.
The event is held in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week, and pits entrepreneurs in a real-time Shark Tank-style pitch competition where winners leave with cash and connections. Last night’s competition was held in conjunction with the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week, and featured members of the 2021 Spark! Cohort, each giving a two minute pitch to “sell” their business to the panel of local judges. Spark! is The Venture Center’s local small business pre-accelerator program lasting 10-weeks and providing a sales and marketing bootcamp for selected businesses.
The 2021 Pitch N Pint winners pool included:
- Kissa Kimble, Elite Recruiting – First Place and $5,000
- Miya Blackmon, Little Rock Lightning – Second Place and $3,000
- Whitney Gray, Whit’s End – Third Place and $2,000
- Ayana Baraka, Edamame Films – $1,000
- Benjamin Harrison, FareMarket – $1,000
- Meosha Howard, Infidimensional Skin – $1,000
- Tammy Iosbaker, The Frame Maker – $1,000
- Soroya Tucker, VLS Waste Solutions – $1,000
“The brave entrepreneurs who participated in the 2021 Pitch N Pint competition showed the community what hard work and grit looks like,” said Ashley Jones, Managing Director of Community Programs for The Venture Center. “Throughout the course of the 10-week program, this cohort has improved their sales and marketing strategies, as well as their pitching skills, which was evident to all in attendance. Congratulations to this inspirational group of entrepreneurs.”
After several virtual pitch competitions geared towards helping businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person event at Brewski’s Pub & Grub was a welcome change of scenery. Local judges Hilary Trudell, The Yarn; Keneasha Scott, K Scott Consults, LLC; and David Michael, Arvest Bank heard the pitches, asked questions of the contestants, and provided valuable feedback.
To learn more about Pitch N Pint, please visit www.venturecenter.co/
About The Venture Center
The Venture Center is a globally recognized Arkansas-based Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) that helps entrepreneurs turn their start-ups into viable, high-growth businesses. By leveraging the expertise of a world-class team of mentors, intensive programming, and introductions to the investor community, The Venture Center serves as an engine for economic growth in Arkansas and beyond.
About The Little Rock Regional Chamber
The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.
About ASBTDC
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is a higher-education-based economic development program that assists entrepreneurs, both new and seasoned. As the state’s premier business assistance provider, the ASBTDC is dedicated to helping small businesses achieve success and to promoting economic development throughout the state. Unique among Arkansas economic development organizations, ASBTDC serves businesses from any county in Arkansas, in any industry sector, at any stage of business development.
About Arvest Bank
Arvest Bank operates more than 230 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 14 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 130 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest also is one of a select few banks in the nation to have its mobile app – Arvest Go – certified by J.D. Power for providing an outstanding mobile banking experience. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.