Twenty-twenty tested Black-owned businesses. An economic recession caused many companies to do their best to remain afloat and even fight for their survival. Many Black businesses were unsure what the future would be like for them with the high levels of uncertainty. You bore witness to a diverse and expansive year filled with change, struggle, growth, and triumph. The theme of 2020 was a time of healing, learning from mistakes, and evolving.
Looking ahead to the future, we now have the opportunity to learn from our past and begin to grow. Black Girl Ventures has committed to exponential growth to continue to serve Black and Brown women founders. BGV pledges to accelerate 100,000 Black and Brown women-identifying entrepreneurs––starting with our signature pitch competitions.
The BGV Tea
Pitch season is right around the corner. Here is the BGV 2021 Pitch Competition Schedule:
BGV Birmingham Pitch Competition - February 5th, 2021
BGV x Kim Crawford Pitch Competition - March 11th, 2021
BGV x Manifestation Babe - March 25th, 2021
BGV Miami Pitch Competition - April 8th, 2021
BGV x AfroSheen Pitch Competition - April 22nd, 2021
BGV x Equilibria Pitch Competition - May 6th, 2021
Financial Empowerment x Experian
Do you feel like your finances are an enigma? If so, you’re not alone. Today, financial literacy is a big issue in America. You might find yourself struggling with how to manage your money and how to set personal financial goals. And if that is the case, then managing your business finances can feel a bit tricky and more daunting. Check out our financial empowerment series to learn critical insights in managing your personal and business finances.
WE BAG
The Women Founders Network is an organization that provides both capital and mentorship to women business owners. WFN is an excellent grant opportunity if you have an innovative company that you want to take to the next level. The organization’s Fast Pitch competition selects five finalists to receive free grant money and free professional services each year. Through two rounds of voting, judges select the five top female founders, who then pitch their companies in a “Shark Tank”-style competition to compete for more than $30,000 in cash prizes and over $50,000 in professional services.
If you’re at the stage of working with angel investors then this type of funding might be for you. Eight finalists are selected every 2 months to pitch their company; the next application cutoff is February 8, 2021, and upcoming pitch dates for 2021 are Feb 19, Apr 30, and Jun 25.
Entry requirements: Open to early-stage, high-growth companies in attractive markets like technology and B2B/B2C. There’s a simple online application to apply for funding, and if you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll pitch your company to a group of investors in New York. You should receive a decision within 4-weeks of pitching, and most angels receive $50,000 to $100,000 in seed funding, along with professional help growing their company.
The African-American Entrepreneurs Grant - Female Award will be awarded to a female African-American entrepreneur at any education level who is currently building or who aspires to build a new business. Current or aspiring African-American entrepreneurs across any field or business stage will be considered. Winners will be selected on the merit of their business idea, and on the impact that additional financial support will have for them.
The Halstead Grant is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists. Applicants submit answers to 15 business questions in addition to their design portfolios. The experience is designed to help jewelry entrepreneurs create a strategy to kick-start their careers. The grand prize is a $7,500 cash grant plus other benefits. The deadline is August 1st each year.