Ten Black women entrepreneurs earned their share of $250,000 in funding for his or her businesses because of the Recent Voices Foundation and JPMorgan Chase.

This in-person pitch competition, held on Saturday, July 2 on the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in Recent Orleans, awarded one (1) grand prize of $100,000; (2) $50,000; and (2) $25,000 money grants, combined with personalized business skills development, coaching, and mentoring for six months post-competition. 

Designed to assist women of color-led businesses navigate the present climate and find solutions to the challenges they face, the Recent Voices + Chase Pitch Competition empowers entrepreneurs to create, launch, and grow their businesses.

The largest win of the day —$100,000 to be exact—got here courtesy of the good mind of visionary Aaliyah Marandiz. Her company, Sugardoh, is a Texas-based company on a mission to make compostable sugaring paste your favorite at-home hair removal method.

The $50,000 winners included Jordan Karim, Founding father of Flora and Noor, an inclusive skincare brand with halal, vegan, and cruelty-free products and Pauline Igdohgo, Founding father of Mocktail Club, a line of premium crafted sophisticated and healthy non-alcoholic cocktails.

The $25,000 winners were Shunta Grant, Founding father of The Best Today, a brand that equips women with resources to be proactive and intentional with their time, and Jasmine Marie, Founder, Black Girls Respiratory, a secure space for Black women to administer their mental health through breathwork and community..

Along with capital to fund their businesses, the winners will likely be guaranteed placement within the Fall 2022 Madam CJ Walker PACE (Purpose. Access. Capital. Expertise.) Bootcamp powered by Babson College, helping to make sure the long-term viability and sustainability of those enterprises.The $100 million Recent Voices Fund, is a next-generation fund making private equity investments in businesses owned or managed by women of color. To maintain up with all of the life-changing work the Recent Voices team is doing to support, empower and elevate Black women entrepreneurs, click HERE.