Over 200 business owners and entrepreneurs are expected to attend the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit and pitch competition on Thursday, June 1 at Monona Terrace Convention Center-Madison Ballroom. Registration is still open for attendees and walk-ups are welcome.
The Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit is a free daylong professional development conference and pitch competition for minority- and women-owned businesses. Following the pitch competition, Hy-Vee will award a total of $50,000 to local businesses across greater Madison area and surrounding states.
A total of 15 minority- or women-owned businesses have been selected to participate in one of three pitch competition categories to showcase their products or services. A panel of judges will select one winner of the $30,000 grand prize, as well as one business from each pitch category to win $5,000. Additional cash investments may be awarded. The following businesses have been selected out of more than 90 applicants to present during the pitch competition:
· Bear’s Bites, East Peoria, IL
· FlavR Beverage Company, Kansas City, MO
· theEATbar, Lake Forest, IL
· T-Rex Cookie, Eagan, MN
· Yips Snacks, Madison, WI
· Altruize, Beloit, WI
· FerskTech, Corcoran, MN
· Hood & Fade, Madison, WI
· Melanin Minded, Milwaukee, WI
· Nerdbugs, Madison, WI
· EverFit, Shawnee, KS
· FAVORYT Brand, Seymore, WI
· Luscious Beauty by Courtney, Madison, WI
· The Joy of Curls, Des Moines, WI
· Valley Self Defense, Stillwater, MN
