AltCap Your Biz reveals 10 finalists vying for $25K grand prize at cornerstone GEWKC event
October 23, 2023 | Startland News Staff
A competition aimed at mobilizing the next generation of entrepreneurs and social innovators — along with awarding more than $40,000 in cash prizes to its winners — announced Monday the 10 finalists vying for its 2023 honors.
AltCap Your Biz returns to the stage Thursday, Nov. 16 at Plexpod Westport at Park 39 as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City’s lineup of top-tier entrepreneur-focused events. The competition begins at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 with company pitches, followed by an awards and prize money reveal at 6 p.m.
Ruben Alonso speaks during the 2022 AltCap Your Biz pitch competition; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News
Click here to register for the competition or here for the awards reception.
RELATED: Check out GEWKC’s just-launched, weeklong event lineup with 100+ sessions
“The judges and our team were blown away by the passion, creativity and impact of this year’s applicants,” officials from AltCap said in an announcement of the finalists. “Judges deliberated for many hours over three days to review nearly 80 entrepreneurs’ pitches.”
The 10 finalists will compete for first place, $25,000; second place, $10,000; the Change Maker Award (best community impact business plan), $5,000; and Fan Favorite (social media and in-person voting), $2,500.
Supporters can watch the finalists’ pitches, then vote for their favorite by visiting AltCap’s Facebook page or by clicking the “Watch the pitch” links below by Nov. 10. (Editor’s note: Not all pitches have been posted, but links will be updated as AltCap rolls out the finalists on Facebook.)
2023 AltCap Your Biz finalists include:
- Co-Angler (John Bledsoe), Springfield, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- CodeAlgo (Triumfia Houmbie Fulks), Kansas City, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- Nexodesk (Jimmy James, Lopez Maradiaga), Kansas City, Kansas — Watch the pitch
- The Black Pantry (Brian Roberts), Kansas City, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- The AI Hub (James Spikes, Taylor Burris), Kansas City, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- The Next Paige (Elaina Thomas), Kansas City, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- Venboo (Juaquan Herron), Kansas City, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- Vine Street Brewing (Kemet Coleman), Kansas City, Missouri — Watch the pitch
- Wrax (Frankie Elder-Reedy), Pleasanton, Kansas — Watch the pitch
- Yes! Athletics (Deb North), Topeka, Kansas — Watch the pitch
Now in its 8th year, AltCap Your Biz has awarded a total of more than $200,000 to entrepreneurs building successful companies, enriching their communities and pursuing their dreams.
Certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), AltCap is a source of alternative financing for communities and entrepreneurs that fall outside the financial mainstream.
Featured Business
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
This $25 stack of ‘Touchdown Toast’ barely fits in its photo; Chiefs concessions debuts decadent playoff platter
Chiefs fans will have a “larger-than-life, breakfast-for-dinner” creation to celebrate the playoffs as Kansas City’s hometown team returns to Arrowhead Stadium later this month. “Touchdown Toast” — described as a loaf of bread that is first soaked in eggs, custard, milk and heavy cream, seared and then baked — is among the first specialty offerings…
Café Equinox propagates new year-round Liberty location; Nelson brothers taking perennial coffee concept evergreen
Café Equinox initially was meant to operate its coffee shop concept only during the equinox, nestled inside Family Tree Nursery greenhouses, said Jonah Nelson. “From September through March when people don’t have that warm outside space, they can come to the greenhouse,” said Nelson, who operates the family-owned garden centers with his brother, Jessie. “It…
KC Tech Council shuffles tech veterans among key board positions; their goal: keep KC tech competitive
A leadership transition at the top advocacy group for Kansas City’s tech community aims to continue the organization’s mission, while opening even more doors for companies across the region that are brimming with innovation. “We plan to broaden our collective impact within the region by providing new opportunities through policy advocacy, tech talent development, catalyzing…
Pilot program targets $50K ops grants to culturally-driven orgs, businesses in the arts
Small arts programs across the region could receive a $50,000 grant from a new pilot program that aims to provide vital sustainability funding for arts-centric businesses and organizations that often fall through the cracks. Applications for the Cultural Sustainability grants are open through 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. The program plans to give general operating…