Photo: Twitter
ATLANTA, Nov. 16, 2021– Operation HOPE’s 8th Annual HOPE Global Forums (HGF) kicked off with its One Million Black Businesses Initiative (1MBB) Pitch Competition, hosted by Operation HOPE & Shopify, along with 25madison Venture Studio.
Held at Atlanta’s Hyatt Regency, this is the first of 1MBB’s ongoing pitch series to create, scale, and grow new Black businesses across the US. All in, participants received commitments toward more than $100,000 in funding, including surprise matching pledges and challenge grants from HOPE Ventures and Ambassador Andrew Young, among others. Each finalist will benefit from access to 1MBBs ongoing coaching, technology and support as they continue to innovate new markets.
During the competition, entrepreneurs pitched to a panel of judges for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize or be a Shopify Green Bag Winner, which includes the development of a professional e-commerce site designed by Shopify Plus Partner Parkfield Commerce. In addition to John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Chairman, Founder, and CEO, the panel of judges included Sara Raffa, Director of Business Development at 25madison, Reggie Love, Senior Advisor at Apollo Global Management, Pinky Cole, Founder and Owner of Slutty Vegan, and Jayson Brown, Senior Lead of Merchant Success at Shopify.
A video recap can be found here.
Read more.
