Grand Prize Winner at Odyssey Media Summer Pop Up

By: Nicole Denise - The Palm Beach Beat

Odyssey Media hosted its 2018 Summer Pop Up on Aug. 4 in West Palm Beach. The event served as both a training seminar and pitch competition for African American women in business. Women from all over the nation gathered to learn from entrepreneurs and experts in a plethora of industries, before competing for three prizes of $500, $750 and $1,500.

Ashley Walker of Riviera Beach won the $500 prize after presenting her pitch for her company Top Shelf Gourmet Pops. “It feels amazing [to win]. This was my first time pitching and I was super nervous, but it was nice to look in the audience and see faces that you recognize.” Walker said.

Winner of the $1,500 grand prize was LaToya Stirrup of Miami. She and her sisters cofounded Kazmaleje, a hair tool line for women of color with natural hair. In her pitch, Stirrup said that she would use the funding she won to invest in beauty ambassador marketing. “The energy in here was amazing, the coaches were phenomenal and I absolutely made some good connections today,” Stirrup said. “I love the camaraderie and support and just seeing women come together, celebrating each other and really being a foundation for what we’re all looking to do.”

Odyssey Media hosted two simultaneous Summer Pop Ups in New York City and San Francisco on the same day. These three events are the precursor to the organization’s annual Keys To Success Pitch Competition that awards five grand prizes of $25,000 to black women entrepreneurs.

To learn more about Odyssey Media visit https://odysseymedia.com.