These 5 companies pitched at Black Girl Ventures’ Boss Up Baltimore

Inside the Startup Nest in Carroll-Camden on Thursday night, the latest Baltimore edition of Black Girl Ventures’ Boss Up pitch competition brought five founders together.
The event series, founded by D.C. entrepreneur Shelly Bell as part-pitch competition, part-crowdfunding campaign, held its first Baltimore event in 2017. The event doesn’t have judges like traditional pitch competitions. Rather, attendees both fund and pick the winner through live voting. Plus, the audience gets a chance to ask questions.

Congrats to all the amazing black women founders that pitched tonight! #BGVBmore #ROTBW pic.twitter.com/BqjTmtEAXv

— Black Girl Ventures (@BGirlVentures) May 17, 2018

Here’s a look at the pitches:

• PineAPPL: Tia Goodson is creating a platform to connect people with textured hair to each other, and retailers that carry products for them. Goodson came away as the winner of the competition, chosen by attendees.

• New Secrets Tea: Newnew Norton developed a luxury tea brand that aims to deliver wellness through all natural tea, herbs and other ingredients. Currently, the company’s offerings are available at BWI.
• My Open Chair: Alicia Holliday is building a platform allowing salon owners to post available chairs, and allowing licensed stylists to rent the space.

🗣TRY IT TUESDAY!!!!
BOOK A CHAIR at our Headquarters and experience what other stylists are RAVING ABOUT!!! #flexibility #freedom all while being apart of a #community #dmvsalon #hairstylist #dmvhairstylist #travelinghairstylist #mobilestylist #tryittuesday #tuesdaymotivation pic.twitter.com/RxfIgnZs5D

— OpenChair (@myopenchair) May 8, 2018

• Ben ah Fox Boutique: Gail Williams is growing an accessory business, with plenty of offerings to browse on Instagram.
• Jazmine Kionna is bringing comfort to high-heeled shoes with a built-in shock absorbent gel and memory foam insole that conforms to the foot. Kionna passed around a prototype at the event.