HOPEWORKS AWARDS OVER $24,000 TO HOPEWORKS ENTREPRENEURS AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL CODE DAY AND PITCH COMPETITION

Hopeworks hosted their 5^th annual Camden Code Day and 2^nd annual Virtual Pitch Competition on Saturday, October 23. Sponsored by Amazon, Square Inc., and Ancero LLC, the event offered educational enrichment opportunities for aspiring technologists as well as a chance for business owners to win financial support.

Code Day attendees had the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops for all ranges of technological experience, including front-end web development, HTML, Javascript, careers in technology, GIS, data, and data visualization.

The Pitch Competition is designed to provide new entrepreneurs the opportunity to receive the support they need to grow and generate jobs in their city. In order to qualify for the competition, the businesses must be revenue-generated, focused on consumer products, services, or technologies, as well as have the potential to generate new jobs. Along with first place, second place and audience choice winners, additional donations that came in during the course of the competition sent three additional entrepreneurs’ home with monetary prizes. The winners of this year’s Pitch Competition are:

·        1st Place, Judges Choice: $5,000: Fran Dixon (Crescent Designs)

·        2nd Place, Judges Choice: $4,000: Leea Kelly (Leea Luna)

·        (Tie) Audience Choice: $3,000 each: Fran Dixon (Crescent Designs) and Luna Tucker (K.Luna Collections)

·        Mid-Competition Donations: $2,000 each: Dre Jordan (Andre J Media Mobile), Sierra Patterson (All Year Round’ Services) and Jase Elam (Nebulous Healing)

“In one day, we are able to support two ends of the workforce—those looking to enter it and those looking to build it,” said Dan Rhoton, Executive Director of Hopeworks. “We are able to help workers prepare for the jobs we are also helping to create.”

Amazon, one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. information technology industry, is joined by American financial services and digital payments company Square Inc., along with New Jersey-based computer consultancy Ancero LLC, in sponsoring the day.

“We are grateful to Amazon, Square Inc., and Ancero LLC for their sponsorship on our mission to help cultivate talent advancement and business prosperity in the region,” said Brad Aronson, President of Hopeworks’ Board of Directors. “With their support, we are able to help the young people in the community achieve their dreams in the technology industry.”