Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition Information
2025 Pitch Competition Brought to you by our Exclusive Pitch Competition Partner
The Athene Black & Brown Business Summit was created by national stakeholders to elevate ethnic minorities and bring BIPOC businesses together to assist with connection building, programming, promotion, training, and to provide resources to help businesses grow and prosper.
The fifth annual Athene Black & Brown Business Summit on April 16-17th will bring everyone from entrepreneurs to seasoned professionals together in a hybrid setting at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa. The Summit includes a pitch competition, breakout sessions led by top experts, Mel Essex Award Entrepreneur of the Year Award, inspirational keynote speakers and more. Our goal is to help advance the minority business community across the country and position Iowa as the best place in the nation to start and lead a minority business.
“We believe in the power of diverse businesses to drive innovation and economic growth. Renewing our support for this competition enables us to contribute to a program that empowers minority entrepreneurs and strengthens communities. We are excited to continue working with the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce to make the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit a resounding success in the years to come.”
2024 Pitch Competition Winners:
- Femly – $20,000
- Lightly – $15,000
- Fresh Mediterranean Express – $10,000
2024 Finalists ($1000 prize):
- ABGT Shop
- Dtocs LLC
- Flikshop
- Four Corners Coalition
- Redefine and Reveal-Wild Card Pitch Bowl Winner
2023 Pitch Competition Winners:
- Louisiana Creole Pecan Candy – $20,000
- QuikLiq – $15,000
- The Joy of Curls LLC – $10,000
2023 Finalists ($1000 prize):
- Bri’s Dance Place
- Coffee For a Cause
- Four Corners Coalition
- Manifest Your Purpose
- Kut Kings
2022 Pitch Competition Winners:
- Lumena Energy Inc. – $12,000
- Autistic & Loved, LLC – $10,000
- Stagerie, Inc. – $6,000
Additional Finalists ($2,000 prize):
- A Little Buzzed
- Dae-licious Delights
- Dupee Consulting Group LLC
- Evry Intention LLC
- Iowa Media Co.
- Light Pong
- Mountain High Jz Coffee LLC
2021 Pitch Competition Winners:
- VYBBES Luxury Beats & Instrumentals – $5,000
- Zamorins Solutions, Inc. – $2000
- Mathai Tax Services – $1,000
Additional Finalists ($500 prize):
- Speak Up Stories
- Styled To Perfection
- Uno Staffing Inc.
- ShinDigg
The Pitch Competition application deadline is Jan 31st at 5:00 p.m. CDT.
