The Pitch Show Podcast

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.

In the inaugural episode of the podcast, you; ll get to hear from two past winners - you'll tell their back stories and how they transformed them into thriving and well-regarded businesses. (For listeners who are considering starting their own business, they’ll share Reals Do’s and Don’ts about starting a new venture.) Meet Elissa Buxbaum and Jermaine Smith. Elissa is the creator of Career Mirrors, a life-like adventure video game for elementary schools that makes it fun to gain a realistic and confident future vision of oneself. Students see themselves alongside a mentor… as game characters, achieving tasks on a journey toward success. In the third grade, young people often start to get tracked for their future; and at that moment, motivation and sense of self become more critical than ever. Elissa has advised more than 65 schools, non-profits and government agencies, submitted expert testimony to Congressional Hearings, presented on big stages including South by Southwest, and she has been quoted on NPR’s All Things Considered. Jermaine is an African American NYC based Writer, Producer, Director, and full time MTA Train Conductor. JERMAINE is the producer of films and TicTok vinyetes about the struggles and dreams fo peo;e living in marginalized Brooklyn neighborhoods. Jermaine is the CEO of Everyday The Brand Inc Jermaine loves to write and capture "Everyday People that live with Everyday Realities" via his passion for the arts. Jermaine's other works are the inspirational feature film "A Piece of Me" which starred Devale Ellis (Tyler Perry's Sistas & Zatima, Power & Queen Latifah's Equalizer), the feature film "Cooking in Yesterday's Grease” and the short films "The Needs" & "The Child" to name a few. This first Episode of The Pitch Show Podcast is fun, informative and quirky. Stay tuned for the next podcast – Pitch Contest - 2nd Attempt, featuring two past winners as judges and two previous contestants who didn’t make the cut when they pitched the first time. In the podcast, they’ll get to pitch an updated version of the business. Who will be the sole winner to go home with $1,000 to grow their business. Listen to the podcast to find out - coming early June. That's not all. There'll be prizes for listeners who know a thing or two about important, but unheralded visionary entrepreneurs.