ELEVATION BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION '19 RECAP

This past summer, DWB Accounting held its first successful debut of its “Annual Business Pitch Competition: Elevation”, live pitch event that took place Juneteenth weekend at Jolie Studio, in Brooklyn, NY. A competition specifically geared towards minority-owned businesses that are black-owned and entrepreneurs with a pitch idea.

Our founder - David Bazile, created Elevation to fill a void he realized in the urban communities that heavily affected and challenged our rights to finances - especially for those in business, and wanted to create an initiative that would help bridge the funding gap by funding black-owned businesses and celebrate and highlight black entrepreneurship and culture in a positive and uplifting way.

Elevation was a packed event with over 60 individuals and other entrepreneurs throughout the Tristate who attended. 5 contestants out of 21 participants who included Run Hoops LLC, FrogShop, Lexi’s Lil Bug, IamB’kem, and Ariel L. Metayer who took the live stage to compete for the grand prize of $1,500USD in front of a panel of judges consisting of seasoned entrepreneurs, business professionals, etc and a live audience. Judges included Jerome Hayden (VP at an Investment Firm), Guildia Lopez of Brothers & Briefcases, Jorel Homme of American Capital Express, and Camille Mangham, CPA.

Incredible and lively energy from Host Andre Turnbull filled the venue, amazing Keynote speeches from our founder David Bazile, Castell Barnes Jr, Co-founder of GRTR Management & 3x Author, and Ronald Draper , Visual Artist and owner of Ronalddraperart, LLC, which raised the bar for entrepreneurs and business men and women, and live entertainment from saxophonist Noel Haye and music from DJ Kurtious.

Media coverage from the talented Arielle Ryan (on-camera host, producer, journalist), who interviewed many of the key participants in Elevation. In addition, this event included involvement from the following vendors mentioned:

Adorned by V - Who sold jewelry
Naturally Everything - A company that sells top quality beauty/hair & skin merchandise.
Be.En - A Cannabis company focusing on the health side of Cannabis.
TNT Pineapple - Who provided food and drinks.

In the audience included special appearances from members of Mastermind Connect, Gentleman’s Factory, and more. Lastly, Elevation could not have been a huge success without the involvement of the people behind the scene which included: