audaCITY Tours LLC Announced as a Finalists for UBalt’s ‘Rise to the Challenge’ Business Pitch Competition
Judges representing UBalt’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation have selected seven businesses as finalists for the upcoming “Rise to the Challenge” Pitch Competition. The annual event, now in its 12th year, provides an opportunity for members of the greater UBalt community to pitch ideas and concepts for new and existing businesses before a live audience of their peers, supporters, and entrepreneurial experts from the Baltimore community.
This year’s panel consisting of undergrads, grad students, and alumni will compete, in two separate business categories, Aspiring Business Ventures and Existing Business Ventures, for almost $30,000 in seed money and in-kind professional services.
This spring’s finalists and their businesses in Aspiring Business Ventures are:
Maria Del Hoyo, 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.
Masie Hawkins, The Dream Bra, is a comfortable push-up bra that promotes beauty using irritation-free, healthy materials without the use of metals or plastics.
Aasha Mikha'El, founder of Uniquely in Place, a hair salon/ barbershop servicing children and adults with autism and other behavioral challenges in a sensory-friendly environment.
Erica Odoemene, Eriodo Education, an online platform using gamification, AI, and personalized challenges to teach financial literacy in an engaging and adaptive experience.
And the finalists and businesses in the Existing Business Ventures category are:
Joyson Balisamore, Jay's Watermelonade, a delicious, natural beverage made without excessive sugars and artificial ingredients for health-conscious individuals in the Baltimore-Metro area.
Cai Lindeman, Civic Supper Club, which combines culinary arts with social impact in Baltimore to make gourmet meals accessible to a diverse audience, while fostering community engagement.
Crystal Wamalwa, audaCITY Tours LLC., is designed 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.
This dynamic group will present before a live audience and a panel of expert judges, representing the local business ecosystem who will band together to select the winners.
“Once again, I was impressed by the diversity of the submissions and the breadth of this year’s applicants, who hail from all corners of the UBalt community,” said Henry Mortimer, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “It’s exciting to see so many unique ideas put forth by our students and alumni, and an honor to support their efforts through the CEI. I imagine the judges are going to have their work cut out for them in May. This is shaping up to be our best pitch competition yet.”
The “Rise to the Challenge” competition, sponsored by UB’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and designed to generate awareness of new and emerging innovative business ventures nurtured by the UB community, is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend.
The University of Baltimore Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, named one of the Baltimore Business Journal’s “Top Incubators and Accelerators for 2019,” directs support and assistance to UB students and alumni interested in building or growing an enterprise. We do this through support, culture, events, education and research, and connecting with the business community. Meet with one of our counselors to discuss launching or growing your business. Visit us at www.ubalt.edu/cei for more information.