We were truly impressed by the brilliance showcased at our 2024 Spring Pitch Competition! Talented and driven Hopeworks entrepreneurs unveiled their businesses to a panel of esteemed industry leaders. They received invaluable feedback and forged new connections, leading to exciting opportunities with potential customers.
The 1st place winner was Lola Ruiz, the founder of Lola’s Nail Cafe - a local nail business where she services clients with beautiful custom nail designs
The 2nd place winner was Jeremiah Reyes, the founder of PetalPods and FloraHouse, another young entrepreneur revolutionizing indoor gardening and creating unique party favors
The remaining three pitchers were each awarded $1,000 in funding for their business thanks to two incredibly generous donors!
Thank you to all of our participants - (Lola Ruiz, Anthony Cole, Nick Caraballo, Jeremiah Reyes, and Janiyah Gonzalez) who were confident enough to pitch their businesses, and humbly accept feedback on how to continue striving for success.
Thank you to our judges - (Ahmed Ali Bob, Wil Reynolds, Natalie Nieves, and Michelle Miller) for taking the time to support our young professionals and provide practical and authentic feedback to each one. Our alumni panelists - Charlene Newbill, Willem Schrieks, Natalie Nieves, and Raymond Alvira for providing real-life business advice to our Pitch Competition participants and audience.
Thank you to our incredible host Brad Aronson for hosting the competition, building the entrepreneurship ecosystem at Hopeworks, and helping to support and grow countless businesses in the Hopeworks community. Lastly, a huge thank you to our sponsors - Block, Wasserman Properties, and NJM Insurance Group for the support!
Check out the entrepreneur's businesses below and please support
Lola - https://lnkd.in/erJvaMak
Anthony - https://lnkd.in/eTMdip6D
Jeremiah - https://lnkd.in/eFj-BGwD
Janiyah - https://lnkd.in/eC2EizRF
Nick - https://lnkd.in/e2PAqaeP
December has been a month of reflection and celebration at Hopeworks as we wrap up a year filled with growth, achievement, and collaboration. Our young professionals have made incredible strides in December alone, landing impactful roles with organizations such as PCS, the City of Camden, the City of Philadelphia, and the IRS! As we look […]
We’re proud to reflect on the incredible work our social enterprises have done with national brands and local organizations alike. This year, we’ve partnered with some amazing clients, including PHL Airport, Subaru, and The City of Philadelphia, providing our young professionals with opportunities to develop skills and grow their careers. These client facing projects have not only […]
This year, our young professionals took a deep dive into the world of tech, and they came up with new skills and fresh perspectives! At Elsevier, they got the scoop from experts in fields like software engineering, data science, UX, and quality assurance. After that, they rolled up their sleeves for hands-on workshops that gave them […]
