6 founders named finalists for University of Baltimore’s Attman competition

The University of Baltimore’s entrepreneurship center looks to gather founders from across the community, no matter how many years they’ve been at the university or what they’re studying. Next month, six of those entrepreneurs will be onstage pitching their ideas to the community.
UB’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation named finalists for the annual Leonard and Phyllis Attman Competitive Business Prize Competition. They’ll pitch on November 13 inside the university’s Thumel Business Center.
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The competition is designed to give founders a chance to pitch to an audience and panel of judges including Angela Singleton of TEDCO’s Builder Fund, ETC President Deb Tillett and Sagamore Ventures Managing Partner Demian Costa. They’ll be competing for $5,000 in prize money, and the crowd favorite award.
Last year, Shelby Blondell picked up the win for her pitch of The Sheller, a three-in-one tool that’s part-crab mallett, part-knife, part-bottle opener and all Maryland.
Here’s a look at who startup community members and UB picked to vie for this year’s big check, according to Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Director Henry Mortimer:

• Brianna Billups will pitch Fully Grown, a business seeking to eradicate food deserts.
• Willow Hendershot is presenting Prevail, a video game focusing on mental illness awareness.
• Kareema McLendon, will roll out a startup creating a line of bridal gowns for women ages 30-50.
• Crystal Santiful, will pitch Chrystal Tutu Paradise, which creates fashion for all occasions.
• Mikita Thompson founded The Party Room, a fully equipped event hall.
• Brittany Whitby and Demi Abromaitis will present hemp cosmetic line Charmony Naturals.