Meet our top finalists!
We are thrilled to announce the top 5 startup founders who will be pitching at the SVB & StartupOS sponsored pitch event at the AfroTech Conference in Austin, TX on November 2nd, 2023!
After an exciting pitch event with the Silicon Valley Bank team, these outstanding founders have been selected to move on to the final round of the pitch competition at AfroTech on November 2nd.
Here are the finalists (in no particular order):
- Anitra Davenport, INKZUP
INKZUP is a two-sided marketplace revolutionizing the tattoo industry. INKZUP connects talented tattoo artists with their next customers, empowering artists to grow their brand and business. - Gwyneth Borden, Remynt
Remynt empowers consumers to rebuild credit while resolving delinquent debt, offering a credit reaffirmation product. By acquiring charged-off consumer credit card debt, Remynt provides consumers a platform to earn fresh credit, create savings, access financial management tools, be part of a stimulating community, and earn rewards for repayment. - Reneé Seward, See Word Design
See Words Anywhere is an innovative technology platform that empowers readers of all ages to hone their skills while immersing themselves in their favorite digital content. Our groundbreaking patented literacy font not only makes reading enjoyable but also provides crucial phonics training, seamlessly embedding dynamic pictograms within letters for a transformative reading experience. - Shannon Aylesworth, Ursamin
Ursamin is a software platform designed to help improve the care for patients living with multiple chronic illnesses. By bringing providers, patients and caregivers into one collaborative location, Ursamin empowers a team-based approach to care that is so desperately needed by millions of patients around the world. - Evin Santana, ENVI
ENVI offers pre-built business management infrastructure for small businesses in the CPG sector that mitigates loss of revenue due to inefficiency. ENVI’s software includes an environmental impact assessment component and has a targeted interest in enabling founders of color with better tools to support a strong business foundation.
These founders will receive an all access pass to the 5 day AfroTech conference, travel stipends, a cash prize, and pairing with SVB/StartupOS mentors. The top 5 winners will receive $60K in total prize money!
Stay tuned as we follow the finalists’ journey to perfect their pitches with guidance from StartupOS and SVB mentors. We’ll be documenting their progress and sharing pitch tips they learn along the way.
Will you be at AfroTech this November? Grab your tickets and join us to see who takes the top prizes! It’s sure to be an exciting event highlighting some of the best and brightest startups.
Let us know in the comments if you have a favorite to win or advice for our finalists as they prep their pitches. And be sure to follow StartupOS for continuing coverage of the AfroTech startup pitch competition.
