Our 3rd Annual Pitch Competition was a major success! Our entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of industry leaders, gained insightful feedback, and even sold their products/services on site to family and friends after the event.
The 1st place winner was Natalie Nieves, the Founder of Bold Creations, a graphic design business and our 2nd place winner was Brianna Smith, the Founder of Kraftii Kouture, a handcrafted jewelry business. Every participant was also awarded $1,000 in funding for their business thanks to a generous donation!
Natalie, an intern in the Web Department, was only 15 years old when she started Bold Creations, making flyers for her friend’s house parties. Ever since, Bold Creations has flourished, expanded, and moved onto becoming a freelance graphic design business that specializes in branding. The funding she received from the competition will help her business grow in many ways.
“The Pitch competition has helped my business tremendously! I can now begin to look for office space to separate my work life from my home life. I ️can also officially invest into another brand photoshoot to take my content and work to the next level.”
Thank you to all of our participants (Nyree, Michael, Kyla, Peggy, Brianna, and Natalie ) - our incredible judges, and our sponsors - Holman Automotive, NJM Insurance Group, and Square for supporting our mission.
Camden has a solution to help solve a long standing problem – truancy among high school students. Thanks to a new $250,000 program, 50 additional students will train and work right here at Hopeworks! Hopeworks Trainees Aunistee Wright and Dian Pagan were featured in the interview, detailing the soft skills and life experience they have […]
Looking for an inspiring event to kickstart your holiday season? Look no further! Hopeworks is thrilled to invite you to our Annual Pitch Competition happening on November 16, 2024 at Rutgers Camden Campus Center from 10 AM - 3 PM! From 10 AM - 1 PM, you'll watch our brilliant young entrepreneurs pitch their innovative businesses to a panel of judges […]
There are so many huge projects currently happening in our Social Enterprises! Just to highlight a few, our GIS team has been hard at work on two new Data and Quality Assurance projects with Seer Interactive and CCMUA. These projects are pivotal in helping them improve their organizational efficiency through data analysis and maintaining quality of that […]
