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.

Godfrey Riddle pitches his social venture, Civic Saint, during the Pitch Black Business Summit; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“I’m feeling phenomenal. Shocked, relieved — just elated,” said Riddle, following the announcement of his win. “It’s crazy because when you create something, you just think, ‘Well, I made this.’ But when others see the value, it’s really meaningful. It gives me motivation to keep going and trust in myself as an entrepreneur, as well as in the needs I see in the community.”

Ten Black-owned businesses took the stage Saturday at The Delta Athenaeum, delivering high-stakes pitches in the one-day summit — organized by Kansas City Generating Income For Tomorrow (G.I.F.T.) — with $60,000 in grants on the line.

Civic Saint claimed the $30,000 grand prize, followed by The Combine with $20,000, and Hive + Harvest rounding out the top three with $10,000.

The annual pitch is designed to amplify Black entrepreneurs, equipping them with financial resources and mentorship, said Brandon Calloway, co-founder of Kansas City GIFT.

Godfrey Riddle, Civic Saint, cheers inside the Delta Athenaeum after being named winner of the Pitch Black Business Summit; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“Kansas City GIFT is 1,000-percent committed to the progress of the Black communities and of Black-owned businesses on the east side of Kansas City and create some economic opportunities where we don’t have nearly as much as we should,” he added.

Click here to read more about GIFT’s 2024 pitch competition winners.

Riddle’s inspiration for his winning social venture stems from personal experiences, the Civic Saint founder told the pitch contest crowd.

“This business model came to me and is informed by my life as a gay Black man, as a cancer survivor,” he said. “My lived experiences have given me the opportunity to see a need for resilient, beautiful housing.”

Civic Saint offers models like the Stone Home Mini, a one-bedroom accessory dwelling featuring a private rooftop patio and vaulted living space, with an estimated retail price between $80,000 and $100,000. 

The company has plans to build its first Stone Home at 3009 East 20th Terrace, just one block north of Montgall Park.

ICYMI: Prototype builds startup’s housing vision where everyone can afford their own castle

“Our ultimate vision is for Civic Saint communities to become the most beautiful, family-friendly neighborhoods where people and communities grow to their full potential,” said Riddle.

Godfrey Riddle, Civic Saint, gives pitch competition judges an up-close look at the earthen bricks used by his sustainable, affordable housing business; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Alan Kneeland, The Combine, is lifted into the air in celebration after being announced as the second-place winner in the Pitch Black competition; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

A $20,000 second-place Pitch Black award to The Combine — a community-focused restaurant and event space on Kansas City’s east side — is expected to feed expansion for the business, said founder Alan Kneeland.

“I will use those funds to enhance the rooftop at my restaurant,” he said of the location at 2999 Troost Ave., which opened in 2020 within the Wonder Shops and Flats development. “We already have a great space that the community loves, and this will just be another addition for them to enjoy.”

“Since Day 1 of me opening my doors, [Calloway and GIFT] have literally been there, letting me know I have resources in the community,” Kneeland added. “This is the first time I was able to take full advantage of it, and I just happened to win. I’m pretty sure our relationship will grow a lot more over the next couple of years.”

Crowd members congratulate William Fondren, Hive + Harvest, for winning third at the Pitch Black Business Summit; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Hive + Harvest, a business selling local raw honey and seasonal treats, secured the summit’s $10,000 third-place prize. Founder William Fondren sees the grant as an opportunity to elevate his venture’s product offerings and impact.

“I feel great. It lets me know I’m in the right place,” Fondren said. “There are rough moments, and in those times, you start wondering, ‘Is this the right path?’ But then you step back, refocus, and it all becomes clear, you start really honing in on what you’re supposed to do.”

Fondren also lauded GIFT for its role in his entrepreneurial journey.

“Even before the pitch competition, I had gone to them for website development and taken a few different classes,” he said. “They are a wealth of knowledge. If I ever have questions about what’s happening in the city, I know I can turn to them.”

Brian Roberts, The Black Pantry, pitches on stage at the Delta Athenaeum; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Other competitors in the Pitch Black competition included:

• AIMwell Yoga — Debonie Lewis’ yoga brand dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all skill levels.
• The Black Pantry — Brian Roberts’ specialty shop showcasing and selling a wide range of products exclusively sourced from a curated, national network fo Black-owned businesses.
• In Good Company KC — A vibrant event space founded by Daniel Edwards and Cedric Ransburg, designed to bring people together through creativity and collaboration.
• Integrity Martial Arts Academy — A training center led by David Muhammad, teaching martial arts with a focus on discipline, self-defense, and personal growth.
• The Mutual Musicians Foundation — A legendary Kansas City jazz institution, where creative director Ernest Melton helps preserve and celebrate the city’s musical legacy.
• On The Rocks Gourmet Jams — Cathy Cowan’s handcrafted jam company, known for bold flavors and high-quality ingredients.
• Taylor Made It — Kassandra Taylor’s custom apparel and accessories brand, blending creativity with personal expression.

ICYMI: This ‘hidden gem’ offers escape from club chaos, KC’s corporate nightlife

Since 2020, GIFT has awarded 77 grants to Black-owned businesses, totaling more than $1.8 million. 

Rickey Leathers, Savvy Salon, gives a keynote address during the Pitch Black Business Summit at the Delta Athenaeum; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Rickey Leathers — co-founder and CEO of Savvy Salon, as well as a senior business services consultant for the Missouri Small Business Development Center at UMKC, and a GIFT board member — delivered a keynote address Saturday at the summit, focusing on growing and scaling a small business.

Karis Harrington, Kansas City GIFT, speaks during the Pitch Black Business Summit at the Delta Athenaeum; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“Scaling is simply growing your money faster than you grow your problems,” Leathers told the audience. “It’s about making more without spending more.”

In addition to the pitch competition, about 100 attendees had access to lunch from The Prospect KC, local vendors, and business-building workshops, including website development, accounting basics, business coaching, how to get a bank loan, and nonprofit 101. 

“There was not a bad pitch today, and there was not a bad business,” said Karis Harrington, COO of GIFT. “Even if you didn’t technically win the grant, you’re still part of the GIFT family. Relationships are what matter, and we’ll make sure you have what you need to keep moving forward.”

Check out an extended photo gallery from the Pitch Black Business Summit by Startland News’ Taylor Wilmore and Nikki Overfelt Chifalu below.