UBalt entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas on May 2, 2024. In about six minutes this highlight reel showcases the four new ventures and two existing business ventures of our students and alumni pitched to the panel of judges. With approximately $30,000 in seed funding available these talented people brought their best pitches for the competition. Four winners, including undergraduate students and recent alumni, emerged from the "Rise to the Challenge" Business Pitch Competition on May 2, each receiving their own "big check" and a portion of the nearly $30,000 in prize money. The event, now in its 12th year, is supported annually by the University of Baltimore's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to showcase many of the UBalt community's most talented and driven entrepreneurs. Two UBalt Ratcliffe Entrepreneurship Fellows and one alumnus were chosen for the evening's top prizes, with the "Most Promising Business" award going to Aasha Mikha'El, founder of Uniquely in Place (U.I.P), a hair salon/barbershop servicing children and adults with autism and other behavioral challenges. A $15,000 award is given to the student whose business, in either category, has the best prospects for growth, as determined by the judges. Mikha'El also took home the Crowd Favorite award of $1,000. Masie Hawkins, founder of The Dream Bra, a comfortable push-up bra that promotes beauty using irritation-free, healthy materials, took home first place in the "Aspiring Business Ventures" category, netting $2,000. Joyson Balisamore, B.B.A. '23, earned the top vote for "Existing Business Ventures" with his Jay's Watermelonade, a natural beverage made without excessive sugars and artificial ingredients, capturing a $5,000 prize. Balisamore also won the Baltimore Fund Award, a $1,000 prize awarded to the entrepreneur who best exemplifies the University’s commitment to Community and Civic Engagement, Ethical Engagement, and Responsible and Resourceful Stewardship for the City of Baltimore. The winner of the $5,000 Dean's Challenge Award was Maria Del Hoyo, head of Blackfoot Studio, a boutique recording studio that aims to unify Baltimore's art and creative collective while unlocking opportunities for growth in the entertainment industry. Established by Murray Dalziel, former dean of the Merrick School of Business, the Dean’s Challenge Award is given to the competitor or competitors who best demonstrate the social impact of their venture. Del Hoyo also earned the $500 "Hustle Award." Provided by Jason Tagler, founder of Pitch Creator, the cash prize goes to the finalist who shows the most improvement during the multi-week presentation coaching program. As an added highlight this year, Amivi Atsu, a senior Ratcliffe Entrepreneurship Fellow, delivered the keynote address. Atsu, founder of AfriVariety, an African home decor and gifts retail business, discussed how her experience as an entrepreneurship student at UBalt has fueled and shaped her success, and helped make the entire night a memorable celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit. Other finalists in the competition included Erica Odoemene, founder of Eriodo Education, an online platform using gamification, AI, and personalized challenges to teach financial literacy in an engaging and adaptive experience, and Crystal Wamalwa, B.A. '19, who created audaCITY Tours to shine a light on black artists by offering them a stage to showcase the depth and diversity of their talents in painting, music, literature, or performance. The panel of expert judges, representing the local business and entrepreneurship community, included: James Peterson, vice president and small business ambassador, M&T Bank Trenae Watson, M.S. '20, CEO, TLW Consulting Alan Tsao, B.S. '11, M.B.A. '21, founder, Tsao Baltimore Katie Kilby, founder and president, Reveille Grounds "Although not everyone walked away with a monetary prize, I believe that all of the finalists proved to be winners this year,” said Henry Mortimer, director of UBalt's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. "Honestly, the work that they put into this competition, amid the many responsibilities they face every day—including attending classes, working full-time jobs, and managing the many aspects of their personal lives — is nothing short of extraordinary. They're all impressive, and it is my hope that I'm not the only one who feels that way. My wish is that each caught the attention of someone new who’d be interested in their idea or product, possibly some very influential people who can help nurture the growth of their enterprise and allow them to continue to develop as entrepreneurs." www.ubalt.edu/cei