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The Hornets Innovation Summit will be held for the fourth year in a row. The summit, sponsored by Bank of America, is an initiative aimed at supporting economic mobility in Charlotte by awarding a $15,000 investment to one minority-owned company.
Businesses that are at least 51% minority-owned and operated by Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans are eligible to apply to the Summit. Companies selected to advance to the second round will submit a one-minute video pitch. A panel of experts will then select the winner from the group of finalists.
The influence of “on hand”
Brandi Grier, CEO of B.Long Jurse, a chemist from Greenville, South Carolina, won the inaugural 2021 Hornets Innovation Summit. She presented her Jurse, a jacket that transforms into a handbag, at the panel, which attracted nearly 200 attendees. judgement.
She said the idea for Jurse came from the inconvenience of carrying around wallets, jackets and handbags. After two years of development, Jurse was launched in October 2020.
Greer, who had only been with the company for four months at the time, said she was nervous about entering the contest.
“Being in front of people, talking, going around the shark tank, everything was new. It was like being thrown into the fire,” Greer said.
Greer explained that the experience helped her develop confidence.
“Learning how to speak, learning how to take interviews compared to when you’re in the lab, being quiet and not just thinking about yourself. It helped me come out of that shell,” she said. Ta.
She told QCity Metro that sales increased by 152% after winning. The funding, she said, allowed her to purchase inventory and keep it “on hand” instead of taking pre-orders and making customers wait weeks for items.
“[The money] It was helpful,” she told QCity Metro. “[I didn’t have] I had company credit, so I paid for everything myself. ”
Greer said she also used the $15,000 to learn about her industry through marketing and website design classes.
beyond money
2023 winner Kevin Gatlin owns Playtime Edventures, a company that makes interactive and educational bedding products for children. He told QCity Metro that the company initially partnered directly with hospitals to provide bed sheets to children in long-term hospital stays.
But during the pandemic, Gatlin said they had to pivot to retail.
He said he was able to make more money from the Hornets by more than $15,000, noting that having the Hornets on his side brings more “credibility” to his business.
The Hornets introduced him to several businesses and further partnerships with Levine Children’s Hospital and the Salvation Army Women’s Shelter.
“This created a new expansion for our company to work with businesses to reach them. [corporations], you can’t cold call.You are really [have] To receive a warm introduction. “The Charlotte Hornets gave us such a warm introduction,” he said.
Gatlin said he continues to work with the Hornets after the Summit win, building a relationship with the organization that will continue to help the business grow.
In addition to one grand prize, the Hornets Innovation Summit will also offer all applicants a live investor training workshop with the UNC Charlotte Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center to teach pitching, customer discovery execution, and other entrepreneurship skills. You can learn about
To apply, all businesses must be located within 240 miles of a spectrum center and be 51% operated and controlled by members of a minority group. Applications can be made online and will be accepted until the end of January.
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