Other popular events were the Small Business Awards luncheon hosted by Ariel Investments L.L.C. and the Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch Competition, which this year awarded an unprecedented $30,000 total in cash prizes to three winners who gave impressive pitches. At the conference, be honored the following small businesses and entrepreneurs:
PITCHING FOR $10K
Entrepreneurs compete in BE’s annual elevator pitch competition
The game show-styled Elevator Pitch Competition involved 10 entrepreneurs vying for a grand prize of $10,000 by pitching their ideas to a packed audience and panel of judges. PepsiCo, the competition sponsor, opted this year to award all three winners $10,000.
The judges were:
– Earl “Butch†Graves Jr., President and CEO of Black Enterprise
– Star Jones, Author, attorney, TV personality
– J. Anthony Brown, Comedian and radio personality
– Magnus Greaves, Founder and CEO, TheCASHFLOW
GRAND PRIZE WINNER: $10,000
Brandon Butler – The Web Site Shop
What he does: Website designer
Location: Atlanta
Business model: Brick-and-mortar retail
Web design shop
THE PITCH
“Every business needs a great website. But many times the hardest part about getting that great website is finding a reliable Web designer. I’m Brandon Butler and I’m the founder of The Web Site Shop. We’re the first ever brick-and-mortar retail Web design store. We’re conveniently located right here in Atlanta, Georgia, inside Northlake Mall and we’re open seven days a week. Many of our clients don’t know where to start to find a great website, and many clients have had [situations] that cost them a lot of time and money with getting a great website done. Because we’re in a convenient retail location, our accessibility makes us accountable but our skills set us apart. It is our goal to make the Web design process as simple for our clients as ordering a hamburger at McDonald’s. If we were to win this competition it would help us streamline the Web development process. It would also help us finish our franchising program so that we can expand our business. You can follow us online at www.thewebsiteshop.net or on Twitter, @officialwebshop. Thank you. Please let us help you take your brand to the next level.â€
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