On April 19, ten entrepreneurs took the stage to present their business ideas to a packed house of friends, family, community members and a panel of judges at our second-annual Core City Pitch Competition. For nearly all the entrepreneurs involved, this was their first experience pitching to a large audience, and for some, their very first time pitching in front of anyone.

In preparation for the competition, participants worked closely with our Core City business advisors to fine-tune their four minute presentations for the big day. When it was time to compete, the impressive lineup of passionate entrepreneurs made the task of choosing a single winner of the $1,000 cash prize an incredibly difficult one.

At the end of their deliberation, our panel selected the mother-and-son team of Linda, Cuyler and Joseph Holmes as the pitch competition winners. The other nine participants also received $500 each to help grow their businesses.

The Holmes family owns and operates B2B Polishing & Detailing Co. LLC, a mobile polishing, detailing and pressure washing service that caters to semi-trucks in the Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo areas. In the video below, Linda, Cuyler and Joseph introduce their business and describe the competition experience—including their unique pitch preparation and how they plan to expand operations with the help of their prize money.

We would like to acknowledge and thank the 10 entrepreneurs who participated in the pitch competition:

Bianca Butts, Ujima re-fresh
Leah Lewis, Three Butterflies Entertainment & Press, LLC
Shayla Ivezzy, Career Closet: More Than a Wardrobe
Marsha Parker, Refined Gatherings, Ltd.
Angela Sharpley, Pipe’n Hot Grill
Linda, Cuyler and Joseph Holmes, B2B Polishing & Detailing Co. LLC
Natasha Elder, Micah Specialty Foods
Darion Burks, Solar Screen LLC
Kiera Brown, Twister Girl Balloon Co.
Derrick Childs, Container Homes USA