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Annual Pivot Pitch Competition
In the Pivot Program, the focus on entrepreneurship is about more than creating a venture idea — it’s about creating solutions. It’s about more than building a business plan — it’s about building confidence. Entrepreneurship is at the heart of the Pivot Program and a substantial part of the curriculum. Each Pivot Fellow goes through the steps of developing a business idea, whether or not they intend to take the idea off the ground. They identify a problem or opportunity, propose and vet a solution, think about the value to the customer, and work through the steps to see that venture succeed. “We’re big believers in the personal development that comes from that process, including the problem solving skills and the project management skills,” said Alyssa Lovegrove, academic director, Pivot Program, who also serves as a senior advisor to the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative. Pivot Fellow Charles Hopkins said he was wary of the entrepreneurship focus at first. But the curriculum shifted his thinking and allowed him to envision himself as his own type of entrepreneur, focused on providing a service rather than a product. “If you have the spirit and vision to produce something, you can be something. You can create something that can be self-sustaining and also help people,” said Hopkins, who hopes to one day launch his own reentry network. Hopkins and six other Pivot Fellows took their ideas to the virtual stage with an entrepreneurship event: the Pivot Pitch Competition. Each year, the competition gives Pivot Fellows the floor to showcase their entrepreneurship skills and business ventures in front of judges from across the business community. Those who wish to continue working on their businesses after graduation receive additional venture incubation support from the Pivot team to make their ideas a reality.
2021 PITCH COMPETITION
At this year’s virtual Pitch Competition on June 25, Pivot Fellows presented six unique business ideas to a panel of judges and won a total of $10,000 in grant funding.
Winners: LaTasha Moore and Victoria Hunt
Next Endeavour Diversity Staffing, a staffing firm focused on employing returning citizens.
First Runner Up: Pascal Laporte
Tenpen, a platform for entrepreneurs impacted by the criminal justice system.
Second Runner Up: Kaamilya Finley
Fresh Start, an online resource and information hub for returning citizens.
Honorable Mention: Ernest Boykin III
SURFACE, a platform to connect donors and volunteers with the families of incarcerated people.
Honorable Mention: Tai’Anthony Carter
Equipt’d, a vending machine service that sells sports equipment at parks and athletic facilities.
Honorable Mention: Charles Hopkins
Forgotten Voices, a multimedia service centered on the stories of incarcerated people and returning citizens.
