For the second year in a row, digital consultancy Ghost Note Agency hosted its Technoir Innovators Classic pitch competition last week in Ivy City.
ReciproCare, the tech-enabled company that aims to expand the capacity of the homecare industry to better serve seniors, walked away with the $5,000 grand prize.
“I just quit my job in February to pursue ReciproCare full-time,” founder Charlene Brown told judges. “And after being in this field for quite sometime, I can tell you that there absolutely needs to be more focus on finding the best care takers for aging citizens.”
Technoir, an initiative that Ghost Note’s founders Brandon Ellis and Steven Jumper launched in 2014, exists to fund, spotlight and celebrate Black-owned businesses. A membership-based community, Technoir has awarded thousands of dollars to companies owned by Black entrepreneurs since its conception. During his opening remarks, Ellis shared that Technoir not only wants to support Black entrepreneurs and their ideas but encourage others to create and launch their own as well.
“Tonight, we want to inspire you all to take that first leap into entrepreneurship that every entrepreneur has to make at some point,” Ellis said.
Packed house tonight for @GhostNoteAgency #WeAreTechNoir #dcsmallbiz #StartUp pitch competition at @ICSHDC #TechNoir pic.twitter.com/qYxsF1nSMH
— Harold Pettigrew (@HaroldPettigrew) September 16, 2016
Over 30 companies applied to pitch in this year’s competition, but only five made it to the stage to share their business idea and a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize.
Below are the final companies that competed for the $5,000 grand prize:
- REZI (runner up) — a company that aims to make the apartment hunting process easier, efficient and more affordable.
- Summer Pack-It — an all-inclusive moving and summer storage service for college students.
- ReciproCare — a company that aims to find competent caregivers for aging seniors.
- The Fitness Snob — a company aimed to tailor your fitness needs and match you with an ideal fitness instructor.
- SEED — an app that will help you communicate your experiences with law enforcement.
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