Pitch prize puts founders closer to building their utopia; How KCMO is backing entrepreneurs who do the right thing

Hearing the personal reasons behind judges’ support for her business at the “Do The Right Thing” social impact pitch competition provides much-needed validation for Utopia Point, said Shereese Hameed-Muhammad.

Shereese Hameed-Muhammad and Patricia McCreary, Utopia Point, accept an honorary check from Chelsey M, KC Black Owned, during the pitch prize announcement at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

The business — launched by Patricia McCreary and Hameed-Muhammad to redesign the geriatric and disabled care community in Kansas City and beyond — was the overwhelming favorite Thursday, earning $28,000 (more than half of the overall prize money).

“It was definitely unexpected,” said Hameed-Muhammad, reflecting after the award announcements on Utopia Point’s ability to resonate deeply with judges. “Everybody that was here was so amazingly touched, which means we’re on the right path and doing the right thing. It felt like a pat on the back for a work that needs to happen.”

Five finalist businesses pitched Thursday in the “Do The Right Thing” competition, which was organized by the KC BizCare Office, the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, and Startland News. Twenty judges — leaders at community organizations and startup founders — gave out $2,000 checks to the startup of their choice. Two $5,000 awards were also given for the Startland News Reader’s Choice and KC Small Business Capital Programs Advisory Committee’s Choice.

ICYMI: Utopia Point extends ‘beacon of light’ to those left in the shadows, in need of care

Shereese Hameed-Muhammad and Patricia McCreary, Utopia Point, right, react during the pitch prize announcement at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“It’s overwhelming and super exciting,” McCreary said of earning the support of most of the judges. “We’ve got a $2 million goal. So I am just excited and happy and grateful.”

McCreary first founded Margaret’s Place — an adult daycare, senior recreation and wellness center on Kansas City’s east side — in 2015 in honor of her grandmother. Now she — along with Hameed-Muhammad — is working to build Utopia Point, an extension of Margaret’s Place.

The duo is currently raising money for Phase 2 of Utopia Point, McCreary explained, noting that when it’s finished the space will house Maragaret’s Place and include a wellness center that mixes Eastern and Western modality, model housing for independent, assisted, and veterans living, chicken coops, and a garden.

Nia Richardson, KC BizCare, addresses the crowd gathered for the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Thursday’s “Do The Right Thing” pitch competition was the culmination of the second phase of City of Kansas City, Missouri’s, micro-business grants program focused on assisting for-profit small businesses with social impact objectives, noted Nia Richardson, managing director for KC BizCare, including advancing health, increasing educational opportunities, promoting equality, and strengthening the local economy.

From the archives: New capital programs for KC small businesses unveiled

“We decided to target those businesses that were doing good in the community,” she said, “those that are doing business because they want to see a difference in their communities. So we want to honor those folks today and make sure we invest money into those organizations that are helping change Kansas City.”

RELATED: Meet the winners of KC’s first grants for micro-businesses; $55K awarded to women of color

Rodney Woodard and Tate Williams, CoBuild, accept the Startland News Reader’s Choice award at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Affordable housing startup CoBuild — founded by Tate Williams in 2018 — took home $11,000, including the $5,000 Startland News Reader’s Choice Award. The startup aims to demolish barriers for minorities and young people — securing equal employment opportunities within predominantly white- and male-dominated trades.

“Running a business is overwhelming, in general, but to be making a social impact, intentionally, and working in difficult spaces — like all these other finalists — just adds another layer of complexity,” Williams said. “So just to be counted amongst this group is unbelievable.”

“And then to be awarded this Startland News prize is specifically really valuable to us,” he added. “Obviously, the money is important, but it signifies that there were a lot of people that shared our link and voted for us.”

Tracey Lewis, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, addresses the crowd gathered for the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Storyboards College Admission Portfolios — which walks undergrad hopefuls through a holistic process that better targets the priorities of schools’ admission boards — earned the $5,000 KC Small Business Capital Programs Advisory Committee’s Choice award.

“I have three children in high school and they all need scholarships,” explained Tracey Lewis, president and CEO of the EDCKC and who handed out the award. “My daughter is extremely intelligent, super successful, and we fought and fought and fought to get those applications in for college. It was a real struggle. Anyone who has worked through that process, knows how difficult that process is.”

Keep reading for more about the winning finalists, along with a photo gallery from the “Do The Right Thing” pitch competition.

Shereese Hameed-Muhammad and Patricia McCreary, Utopia Point, pitch during the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Utopia Point — $28,000

The mission: to provide a nurturing and inclusive environment for seniors and adults with disabilities dedicated to promoting health and wellness while enhancing quality of life.

Tate Williams, CoBuild, pitches his business at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

CoBuild — $11,000 (including $5,000 Startland News Reader’s Choice award)

The for-profit general contracting company for residential and commercial construction prioritizes affordability when it comes to their builds that are solely for low-income individuals and also partners with Emerging Builders, which provides not only on-the-job construction training for women and minorities, but also educational opportunities, support, and resources for at-risk youth.

Franci Erdmann and Dr. Stephen Himes pitch Storyboards College Admission to judges at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Storyboards College Admission — $5,000 (including $5,000 KC Small Business Capital Programs Advisory Committee’s Choice award)

Recognizing the limitations of standardized testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Stephen Himes and Franci Erdmann founded Storyboards in 2020 to guide students through completing their application portfolios in a broader approach that focuses on student development beyond academic metrics.

Mike Rollen, Ophelia’s Blue Vine Farm, accepts an honorary check from Jake Wagner, urban planning and design at UMKC and co-founder of the Center for Neighborhoods, during the pitch prize announcement at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Ophelia’s Blue Vine Farm — $4,000

Founded by Mike Rollen as a tribute to his grandmother, Ophelia, the farm in the heart of Kansas City’s historic Vine Street expresses a mission to reconnect people with the fresh, wholesome food he grew up eating during summers in St. Louis. At a market from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Ophelia’s sells such fruits as peaches and watermelons, vegetables like okra and tomatoes, and herbs like apple mint for tea.

“We’re giving people the experience to know what real food tastes like,” he told the judges.

Jonathan Ruiz, EB Systems, shares his pitch at the Do The Right Thing competition; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

EB Systems — $2,000

The startup — launched in 2015 by Jonathan Ruiz and co-founder Brendan Waters — uses mobile apps, proximity-based sensors and wearable Bluetooth devices to create real-time location, reporting, and alerting systems and has been used at the NFL Draft and Super Bowl parades in Kansas City, as well as the Chicago Marathon and CES conference in Las Vegas.

“What I really want to drive home today is this is more than just a marketing or messaging platform,” he shared with the judges. “This is legacy infrastructure that — while we are designing it with the World Cup in mind — we believe that it can add value in Kansas City for years to come and continue to put us on the map as an international destination and innovation leader.”

Check out a photo gallery from the “Do The Right Thing” pitch competition below.