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Local entrepreneurs Jnicholle Glover and Charletta Broome are still on cloud nine after walking away as top winners of RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship ROC the Pitch competition. The couple, founders of Urban Euphoria LLC in downtown Rochester, joined local new business owners at a celebration Aug. 25 at the Hyatt Rochester, Rochester, claiming a $25,000 check to boost their business.
For the first time since the pandemic began, the Urban Entrepreneurship Center, located at 40 Franklin St., hosted a highly successful business pitch competition open to all businesses operating in Monroe County.
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Lindsay Tarnoff, founder, owner and chief chocolatier at Laughing Gull Chocolates, will present her business to the judges.
Other contest winners include Laughing Gull Chocolates, purveyors of high-quality, organic chocolates made with transparent ingredients, owned by Lindsay Tarnoff (Rochester Rotary 4-Way Challenge Award). Sew-N-City Hair Salon, owned by Shannon Scott (People’s Choice Awards and City League of Rochester), specializes in wig customization and fitting, makeup, lashes, braided styles, elbow looks and haircuts. prize); and Morgan’s Cereal Bar, a variety of hot and cold cereals, assorted foods and beverages, and a food truck, owned by Cheria Anderson (Urban League of Rochester Award).
The competition was open to business owners with an existing business plan and business model generating at least $25,000 in annual gross revenue. During the competition, participants were required to meet at least once with a business coach, as well as attend boot camp sessions to review and update their ethics, financial literacy and business plan. Judges examined the business’s unique competitive advantage, market potential, owner/team’s industry knowledge, business’s financial strength and company growth. Ten businesses were selected to compete.
“We are thrilled with the quality and variety of submissions we received for the Business Pitch competition,” said Eboni Miller-Wesley, director of RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship. The center is designed to reshape the region’s economy and build wealth in urban communities by serving as a center for urban entrepreneurship programs and research.
“We are always looking for business owners who are interested in their ideas and their potential for success,” she added. “This competition gives us a unique opportunity to serve those who may be challenged with securing access to capital or need some direction on their entrepreneurial journey. We look forward to continuing to make an impact in Monroe County to help them grow and serve our communities.”
Lindsay Tarnoff is the founder, owner and head chocolatier at Laughing Gull Chocolates on East Main Street in Rochester. It was Tarnoff’s first time participating in a business competition like this, and she said the experience was invaluable.
“We had an opportunity to reinforce our identity, our values, our plan, and our understanding of the numbers,” Tarnoff said. We are proud Rochesterians and it was an honor to meet other local businesses who have invested in the community. We feel fortunate to be involved, and winning the Rochester Rotary 4-Way Challenge is a unique opportunity that further connects us to our community and helps launch our growth forward. We are excited about our next steps as a business.
Euphoria of Glover City will host over 200 people in the historic Jonathan Child Mansion on Washington Street, named for Rochester’s first mayor, and offer guests exclusive options, including soul food and event promotion.
“The willingness of RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship advisors and faculty to share their knowledge has had a profound impact on us as leaders,” Glover said. “We truly appreciate each jeweler and plan to continue to rely on CUE for guidance and direction as we grow our business.”
In the year The competition, which is expected to return in 2023, is sponsored by RIT, the Rochester Economic Development Corp. , sponsored by the Rochester Urban League and Rochester Rotary.
Go to the Urban Entrepreneurship website for information about programs and services.
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