2021 Small Business Pitch Contest Winners
Congratulations Rhody Wild Sea Gardens and Healthy Minds Education
& Community Center
Congratulations to our 2021 Pitch Contest winners!
HarborOne Bank awarded $ 35,000 to seven, local small business owners as part of two Small Business “Pitch" contests. In each contest, eight small business owners pitched their business plan to a panel of judges in a competition for a $10,000 first place price to help develop and grow their business.
On September 28, we held our first ever event in Rhode Island. First place and the $10,000 prize went to Azure Cygler, owner of Rhody Wild Sea Gardens in Narragansett. She is a sea gardener who is “growing kelp for climate change.” Kelp is good for the earth and now's the time to bring the benefits of kelp into the spotlight and share them with the world.
Additionally, three small businesses were awarded $2,500 each: Kemi Asani, Afrobeat Fit, LLC in Providence, Sean Maloney, 13 Stars Hot Sauce in Cranston and Victor Regino, Luis Olmo and Travis Escobar, Papi’s Cojito in Pawtucket.
HarborOne Small Business Pitch Contest
Then on September 30, we hosted our 6th annual contest in Massachusetts. First place and the $10,000 prize went to Shaena Gillard owner of Healthy Minds Education & Community Center. A quality family oriented childcare agency located in the Brockton fairgrounds area, currently licensed to offer half day care, drop in care and before/afterschool, looking to expand to full day.
HarborOne also awarded $5,000 to Briana Ware, owner of Ian Carter Body Company of Brockton and $2,500 to Andre Marrero, owner of Nantucket Faraway Chocolate, LLC of Nantucket.
