Sometimes, it takes one moment to change someone's life forever.
That moment has already happened for Morgan Williams, Kandi Tesen, Jenna White, and Gladymir Philippe — they're now just waiting to see if it will get even better.
As part of NBA All-Star 2023, the Utah Black Chamber has partnered with the NBA and the NBA Foundation to grow the next generation of Black entrepreneurs by providing the tools, resources, and funding for innovative ideas. This is officially the NBA Foundation's first-ever All-Star pitch competition, further showcasing how special the state of Utah is and how incredible this NBA All-Star Weekend has become.
Given the strong entrepreneurial spirit in Utah, the NBA and NBAF are hosting a live pitch competition highlighting Black entrepreneurs in the Salt Lake City community and across the country. This event will allow these entrepreneurs to gain funding for their ventures and receive valuable input from influential business leaders across the NBA Family.
After a rigorous and demanding process that saw numerous pitches and cuts in competition, Williams, Tesen, White, and Philippe have been nominated as the four finalists to represent Utah. They will go up against four other black-owned businesses from around the country for the chance at $25,000 — second place will take home $10,000.
The five judges who will be deciding the winners of the competition are; Ryan Smith, Primary Owner, Utah Jazz; Ryan Sweeney, Alternative Owner, Utah Jazz; Elizabeth Rutledge, Chief Marketing Officer, American Express; Steve Stoute, CEO, UnitedMasters and Kimmy Paluch, Managing Partner, Beta Boom.
The finals are set for Thursday, Feb. 16 from 5-7 p.m. at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
Blendyd Studios
Morgan Williams, CEO
Blendyd is a software firm bringing high-tech, mobile-first, automated solutions to low-tech recruiting in the trucking industry. These next-generation technologies will maximize operational efficiencies, saving time and money in the long haul. Blendyd Studios is an evolution of EverWoke Inc., an award-winning enterprise SaaS company developing innovative technology to enhance trucking logistics operations.
"For us to be able to win this competition, it will help accelerate us in terms of growing technology and marketing teams, so people know that we're out there," Williams said. "What would have taken us a year to do, this competition has allowed us to do it in a few weeks. As a startup, you're often told how impossible everything is. … But with opportunities like this, I look people in the face and say 'what you say is impossible is your barrier, not mine."
Eats
Kandi Tesen, Founder and Owner
A plant-based vegan bakery serving primarily Salt Lake City, Tesen founded Eats through personal experience. With food allergies being a big theme in her household, she wanted to figure out a way for her family to enjoy delicious treats. After finding success cooking for her group, she decided to scrap her original plan of a coffee shop and instead opened up a bakery.
"To finally be doing something that I never thought in a million years I could have thought of, and to just watch it all come together, it's special," Tesen said. "I am doing nothing but fulfilling my purpose, and it is an honor for something like this to even be happening here. … Even if we don't win, the exposure and experience have been worth it."
Empire Body Waxing
Jenna White, Owner
Based in Murray, UT, Empire Body Waxing is a membership-based waxing salon — although they offer a-la-carte services, memberships provide the best value. Founded in 2020 by Avery Brush and White, both women had been in the waxing industry for years, but they had a vision for a company that did more than just waxing — which is why Empire Body Waxing chooses causes to support that they find essential as a way to connect with the communities that continue to raise them.
"The opportunity, the networking, the exposure, it's invaluable," White said. "I feel like a trailblazer of sorts. … It's been such an honor to be highlighted in this capacity, especially as a black business in Utah."
Kado
Gladymir Philippe, Founder and CEO
A business that focuses on connecting business with early and young talents, Kado was founded in 2020 after Philippe got the idea after helping his sister and her classmates find jobs after graduating college. Kado is all about connecting people with the right businesses, an idea that Philippe believes is beneficial on both ends of the business spectrum.
"It's an honor to show the kids that aren't from here (Utah), that they can be a part of this as well because this state is amazing," Philippe said. "Winning is the goal, but it's bigger than that."