Securing The Bag: Three Black Womenpreneurs Won $50k at Capital One’s Pitch Competition

Three Black women entrepreneurs took home $50,000 collectively at a pitch competition sponsored by Capital One Business.

The banking company hosted the Black Girl Magic pitch competition in partnership with Boss Women Media, an organization that helps women secure the resources they need to bring their dreams to fruition.

The competition finalists pitched to the Capital One judges panel and three winners were announced, according to Essence.

Monisha Edwards, creator of Scent & Fire candle company, was the first-place winner and received $25,000. Her company aims to help people like herself who suffer from anxiety and depression.

Ashley Young took home $15,000 for second place with her online bridal boutique, Bridal Babes.

Third place went to Jacquelyn Rodgers. The owner of Greentop Gifts, a decor brand with a mission to bring diversity to gift wrap and stationery for celebration and special events, secured $10,000.

Capital One announced the pitch competition in a press release, which also mentioned their Black Girl Magic Digital Summit.

“At Capital One, we celebrate the powerful impact women of color have on the workplace, economy and broader society,” Celia Edwards Karam, Chief Audit Officer at Capital One said in the press release.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Boss Women Media to host this year’s summit, and motivated by our opportunity to leverage our scale and resources to hold space for important conversations around financial wellbeing, building generational wealth and more.”

Capital One’s purpose for sponsoring the Black Girl Magic Pitch Competition and the summit was to grant Black women with funding and resources to get their businesses started, AfroTech reported.

The Black Girl Magic Digital Summit took place Aug. 21-22. Thousands were in attendance for the event, where they were able to network, build connections, and compete. Some of the speakers included former White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, actresses Yara Shahidi and Naturi Naughton, and Women’s National Basketball Association’s Candace Parker.