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Meet The Winners Of The 2021 Cincinnati Pitch Competition

Updated: Dec 10, 2021


Candice Holloway - 1st Place Winner



Candice Holloway - 1st Place Winner | Black Girl Ventures

Candice Holloway is the founder of Soul Secrets. She started cooking with her grandmother, which turned into a bonding experience—watching her grandmother cook for the community while not having the present-day opportunities that she had led her to want to carry out her legacy and leave generational wealth. And then, as a way to bond with her daughter, who struggled with depression, they started baking and cooking together as well.


Soul Secrets is the first soul food restaurant in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. They bake and cook all their foods from scratch. Their business grew as a result of corporate partnerships. Their B2B traction led to an increased demand for their food which expanded to a B2C model. They will soon be opening their brick-and-mortar in 2022, where families can gather, eat good food, and connect. They also plan to offer vegan soul food to expand their clientele. Most importantly, they'll be partnering with local agencies to provide second-chance hiring to have a positive social impact on the community.



Chelsea Mooreland - 2nd Place Winner


Chelsea Mooreland - 2nd Place Winner | Black Girl Ventures

Dr. Chelsea Mooreland is a board-certified family physician practicing full-spectrum primary care. She is the founder of the Life Cycle DPC and is transforming healthcare. They have an in-house lab and in-house pharmacy services. Life Cycle DPC offers families the quality, continuity, and transparency you've been looking for in a membership-based comprehensive primary care.


For a flat monthly fee, their members benefit from care at all of life's ages and stages, allowing them to provide them with deeply personalized and compassionate care without the hassle and limitations of insurance.


They currently offer B2C and will be adding B2B services. With B2B services, employers can pay a monthly flat fee for all of their employees. The more employees they bring in, the more they can lower their costs. They focus on minimizing out-of-pocket costs and emphasize preventive and family care as a means to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.


Dari Grant - 3rd Place Winner


Dari Grant - 3rd Place Winner |Black Girl Ventures

Dari Grant is the Founder of Society Cycle House. Tackling the staggering issue of heart disease being the number one killer in minority communities, she founded her neighborhood's first indoor spin cycle studio. Society Cycle House offers instructor certifications and yoga classes.


Society Cycle is a movement-focused oasis for all. Female and minority-owned, this is a space where everyone feels comfortable getting their sweat on. As Downtown Cincinnati's first Cycle House, all are welcome––whether you're a pro or this is your first time.


They are an all-inclusive wellness hub for mental and physical well-being. They have partnerships with local companies to enhance their employee wellness programs. Society Cycle House has created a movement of social wellness around the community.


The BGV community congratulates these amazing Black women business owners.


Subscribe to the Digital Orange Juice for juicy ideas and the people who fund them. You can find out about our next pitch competitions here. Also, be sure to join our new community BGV Connect!

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