From M&T Bank:
M&T Bank Corporation (“M&T”) (NYSE: MTB) today announced the winners of its Bridgeport Multicultural Small Business Lab Pitch Competition. Hosted at the University of Bridgeport’s Ernest C. Trefz School of Business, the competition highlighted the creativity and resilience of small business owners from the Greater Bridgeport area with four innovative entrepreneurs securing a combined $16,000 in cash prizes.
“At M&T Bank we’re proud to support and celebrate the creativity of Bridgeport’s diverse entrepreneurial community,” said David Femi, Senior Vice President and Business and Professional Banking Regional Manager at M&T Bank. “These businesses embody the innovation and drive that are vital to our local economy, and we remain committed to helping them thrive.”
This year’s top prize went to Christina Phillips, founder of Puure, an organic women’s undergarment brand addressing reproductive health issues. Gissell FeQuiere, creator of the tax planning app “Tax Plan Hero,” claimed second place, followed by Nova Raft of Nova Raft Business Advisors and Peggy Colas of Cornerstone Medical Training Center in third and fourth place, respectively.
2024 Winners:
- First Place ($6,000): Christina Phillips, Puure – Creator of organic, non-toxic women’s undergarments, Phillips impressed judges with her commitment to tackling reproductive health issues through safe and stylish products. She plans to use her prize to expand into plus-size offerings and fund labor expenses.
- Second Place ($4,500): Gissell FeQuiere, Gisselle Tax & Accounting – FeQuiere introduced “Tax Plan Hero,” an innovative app to make tax planning accessible and affordable for small businesses and freelancers. The funding will accelerate app development, aiming for an April 2025 launch.
- Third Place ($3,000): Nova Raft, Nova Raft Business Advisors – Specializing in providing tailored business strategies for small enterprises. Raft plans to further expand her advisory services.
- Fourth Place ($2,500): Peggy Colas, Cornerstone Medical Training Center – Colas supports community health through comprehensive medical training programs, and plans to use her winnings to enhance her course offerings.
Since its inception during the pandemic in 2020, M&T’s Multicultural Small Business Lab has supported nearly 700 businesses across the Northeast, providing essential training in business planning, credit fundamentals, branding, and cash flow management.This year’s participants met key criteria, including being in operation for fewer than five years, located in Greater Bridgeport, and generating annual revenues of $300,000 or less. Judges evaluated pitches based on presentation quality, market needs, growth potential, and community impact.
To learn more about M&T’s efforts to support small business diversity, please visit M&T Multicultural Banking
