The 2024 AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition celebrated Kansas City’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, awarding over $40,000 in prizes to local, small businesses at a live event held during Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City.

Hosted at the historic Union Station, the competition attracted more than 200 attendees and provided a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and community impact.

Brown Suga*, founded by Ebony Paul, claimed the $25,000 grand prize with an impressive pitch highlighting its mission to bring the community together through delicious baked goods and events. Known for its pop-ups and community engagement, Brown Suga* stood out for its compelling pitch, solid growth, and local impact, earning top honors among a competitive group of 10 finalists.

The AI Hub: An Arts Incubator, co-founded by Taylor Burris and James Spikes, earned the $10,000 second-place prize. The art incubator supports creatives by offering resources, services, and paid opportunities, helping artists grow their ideas into sustainable ventures.

Raise Health Innovations, creator of DASH — an AI solution for mental health detection — won the $5,000 Change Maker Award for its potential to drive meaningful change in mental health outcomes. E-Z Pedicabs, a Kansas City-based company enhancing urban mobility with eco-friendly pedicabs, won the $2,500 Fan Favorite Award after attracting 500 votes during the public voting competition.

The AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition, now in its ninth year, highlights rising business stars in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and fosters connections within the small business community. This year, AltCap also welcomed Daisy Buckët as our new emcee. A staple in the LGBT community in Kansas City for over 15 years, Daisy is an award-winning entertainer, advocate, and performer with The Kinsey Sicks.

Congratulations once again to all the ACYB finalists — your stories and businesses were all truly inspiring. Thank you to our fantastic sponsors: UMB Bank, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Lead Bank, The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Bank Midwest, J.P Morgan Chase, Bank of Labor, and Academy Bank.

We look forward to seeing you all next year for the 10th anniversary of the AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition. Keep an eye out for AltCap Your Biz applications that open in September.