Bellarmine University’s Rubel School of Business offers a Certificate for Women of Color Entrepreneurs to support diversity and inclusion in business entrepreneurship in Louisville.
The 2022 cohort finished up the program with a Pitch Competition this month, which served as an opportunity for participating business owners to showcase the business knowledge they acquired during the program and how it applies to their business. The Rubel School awarded capital to the best 3 presentations at the Pitch Competition. A panel of judges decided who the best business presentations were in a format like ABC’s famous reality show, “Shark Tank.”
First Place Winner: $10,000, Julee's Mocha - Ausha Hilliman
Second Place Winner: $5,000, Hispanic Professional Services - Daniela Carrion
Third Place Winner: $2,500, Martin Muir Counseling - Renesha Martin
The Rubel School’s Women of Color Entrepreneurs—Leadership Certificate program, which began last year, is a six-month program taught by women faculty from the Rubel School, minority women entrepreneurs, and senior leaders from the business and non-profit communities. Each participant is assigned a mentor. The program consists of five modules—Leadership, Financial Acuity, Marketing, Social Media and Communication and Negotiation—that are each taught in one four-hour session per month and a capstone project in which each participant develops a business model to present.
Per a partnership agreement, the Rubel School gives priority registration in the program to two members of the AMPED Russell Technology Business Incubator (RTBI). In exchange, the incubator guarantees placement in its one-year program for the winner and runner-up of the Pitch Competition.
Click here to see more pictures from the competition.