Chattanooga entrepreneur Angie Adams earned first place at LAUNCH’s annual pitch competition, the Startup Showdown
Chattanooga entrepreneur Angie Adams earned first place at LAUNCH’s annual pitch competition, the Startup Showdown, held last Wednesday, Oct. 18. The Startup Showdown, which celebrated it’s 4th year, saw 10 entrepreneurs take the stage to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges. All entrepreneurs are graduates from LAUNCH’s Business Entrepreneurship Academy, a 10-week course that is aimed at adults interested in starting a business, and those who have already started one.
Ms. Adams walked away with $2,500 to help further Calamansi Cafe, her Filipino American Fusion Restaurant that is currently running as a pop-up restaurant. Second place and $1,500 went to Cheri Hudgins for Perfect Portions by Cheri, a company that offers affordable, healthy and convenient prepared meals for the everyday active person. Third place of $1,000 was awarded to Ryn Tompkins of Eat Sip Walk, Chattanooga’s first and only food tour company, offering a culinary adventure for locals and tourists alike. In addition the People’s Choice award went to Abdulwahhab Alabid, owner of Jinan’s Kitchen, a catering company that offers Iraqi and Persian cuisine.
Separately, entrepreneur and teacher Brittany Harris and her business partner Colleen Ryan presented their nonprofit, The Passage, to the audience while the judges deliberated. The Passage is a school bus turned into a mobile classroom that goes into the community and helps parents learn essential and effective strategies with their children. At the competition, LAUNCH announced it will match all donations (up to a total of $500) made by end of the year. To make a donation, head here.
Additional participants included Kenyatta Ashford for Soulful Kitchen, Christopher Charles Chaney with Chaney Speaks, Katherine Ladny Mitchell with Cup & Quill Specialty Scones, Mia Robinson of Mia’s Voicebox, Lesli Washington with Hummbea’s Poundcakes, and last but not least, DeJuan S. Jordan, a life design coach.