Many of you listening, attended, or heard one of my pitch contests in the last five years.

The Pitch Show started in 2019 with the goal of giving not-so-well

connected startup entrepreneurs a venue where they could share their business

idea and win money to build their businesses.

But I decided to make a pivot and put the show in podcast form so more folks can hear about progressive startups.

In keeping with the goal of giving opportunities to startups, I decided to give past contestants who did not win - a second chance to pitch their business. You will hear them now.

And the judges this time – unlike the entire audience in past contests, are two are past winners. Since they are operating successful businesses who, better to evaluate today’s contestants.

Contestants in this podcast are people creating all kinds of businesses. Yet, while all have a passion for what they do, they also believe it’s not enough to just fulfill themselves; their passion is about using their talent and skills to bring tangible change to the communities they identify with

These are the contestants:

Kadijat B. Salawudeen has been a a Marketing & Events Strategist working across companies including Republic Records, Apple TV+,and Big Machine Label Group.. Born in Nigeria, she is passionate about providing clarity and access for the next generation of women. She is currently the Executive Director of Girls Who Listen and a 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in the Music category.

Marc Masurovsky. In 1967, my father won a graphics prize in Krakow for a drawing that he had submitted. We had to drive from Paris to Krakow to collect the money. Once there, we were obliged to spend it. While in Poland, we visited the concentration camp of Auschwitz. The day-long visit transfixed me in ways that I could not comprehend. Since then, I have spent countless hours and days at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and in archives in Europe, digging through intelligence, military and diplomatic records to understand the why and the how and the whom of plunder and genocide.

These are the judges:

Desiree Charles is a registered nurse, a working mom of three, a published author, and a brand builder. She didn't come from money and didn't have a blueprint. She had a purpose and refused to quit. Teo years ago,she pitched her nursing education business, Nurses Will Pass — at The Pitch Show and won first prize

Shaw Benard is the founder and CEO STRUT Models, a boutique agency known for developing exceptional talent and advancing Shaw Bernard is a fashion industry leader, modeling industry diversity and professionalism within the global fashion industry.

Want to find out who won? Have a listen.