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
KC’s FairWave coffee pours into the Carolinas with latest small-batch roaster acquisition
Joining Midwest-based coffee collective FairWave gives Black & White Coffee Roasters access to the enhanced equipment, resources and network needed to scale the North Carolina business to its potential — while staying true to its values, said Kyle Ramage. “It’s a natural progression that will allow us to build upon our existing foundation and reach…
DoorDash Accelerator opens applications to local businesses through KCMO partnership
Independently-owned brick-and-mortar businesses — think restaurants, flower shops, mom-and-pop supermarkets, and more across Kansas City — that partner with DoorDash for deliveries can now apply to join a new-to-KC entrepreneur-focused accelerator, Quinton Lucas announced Wednesday. Up to 10 local businesses are expected to be selected to receive mentorship, professional programming, and funding through the accelerator.…
Meet the winners: Pitch Black competition rewards founders’ vision with $60K in prizes
Founder Godfrey Riddle was overwhelmed with emotion Saturday, he said, after accepting the $30,000 grand prize at the Pitch Black Business Summit — a game-changing development for his sustainable, affordable housing venture, Civic Saint. “I’m feeling phenomenal. Shocked, relieved — just elated,” said Riddle, following the announcement of his win. “It’s crazy because when you…
This young baker tore up the instructions for starting a business (but kept all the best recipes)
Overland Park cookie shop gets a new baker behind the counter, adding a frosted twist to familiar favorites She learned to bake as a child by her grandmother’s side. So by middle school, Maddie Callicott was so proficient she not only held popular bake sales, she printed up business cards for her “You Take the…