West Des Moines Chamber Opens Applications for 2025 Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition

WEST DES MOINES, IA (December 10, 2024) – The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications starting Tuesday, Dec. 10 for the 2025 Athene Black & Brown Business Summit (BBBS) pitch competition, brought to you by exclusive Pitch Competition partner Bank of America. The application submission deadline is Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, by 5 p.m.

“We believe in the power of diverse businesses to drive innovation and economic growth,” said Annie Brandt, senior vice president and market executive, Bank of America Iowa. “Renewing our support for this competition enables us to contribute to a program that empowers minority entrepreneurs and strengthens communities. We are excited to continue working with the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce to make the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit a resounding success in the years to come.”

All pitch competition applicants are invited to the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit presented by Wells Fargo on April 16-17, 2025, at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel. On April 16, seven top applicants and one randomly selected participant will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win thousands in prizes. To qualify, participants must attend the full day of networking and experiences on April 16, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with pitches starting at 2 p.m. Winners will be honored at the Pitch Awards Ceremony on April 17 at 4 p.m.

Over the past two years, winners have received a combined $152,000 in prizes, with all competitors receiving monetary awards. Food and beverages are included.

Eligibility Requirements

• Businesses must be 51% minority-owned.

• Must be an established small business (in operation for over two years, with fewer than 50 employees, and under $2.5 million in annual revenue).

• Only for-profit businesses are eligible - nonprofit organizations may not compete.

• Businesses do not have to be in West Des Moines; any qualifying business may apply.

• Previous winners from the past three years are ineligible to apply.

The 2024 pitch competition saw 8 minority-owned businesses participate, all winning cash prizes. Winners included Femly at first place winning $20,000, Lightly in second place winning $15,000, and Fresh Mediterranean Express in third place winning $10,000. Additional pitch finalists received $1,000 including AbgT Shop, Dtocs LLC, Flikshop, Four Corners Coalition, and Redefine and Reveal.

“We are overjoyed to be a finalist and top-prize winners of $20,000 in the Athene Black & Brown Pitch Competition,” said Arion Long, founder and CEO of Femly. “This award will allow us to expand and partner with colleges, hospitals, hotels and more throughout Des Moines. We’re so thankful to have the support of the community and West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.”

Those interested in applying for the 2025 Athene BBBS Pitch Competition can find the application at bbbsummit.com. Learn more about BBBS and purchase tickets on the website at bbbsummit.com.
 

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About the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit:
The Athene Black & Brown Business Summit is an annual event dedicated to providing a platform for Black and Brown professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders to share insights, inspire change, and foster connections. The summit serves as a catalyst for growth, empowerment, and collaboration within the community.

About the WDM Chamber of Commerce
The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, established in 1924, is a dynamic organization dedicated to championing all things West Des Moines. With a focus on strengthening local businesses, providing personalized resources, and attracting a top-tier workforce, the Chamber aims to position WDM as the best suburban city in America. Celebrating a century of excellence, the Chamber boasts a diverse community of over 800 members, offering something for everyone. Explore the possibilities, learn more about the chamber, and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of West Des Moines at wdmchamber.org.

About Athene
Athene is a leading retirement services company with over $350 billion of total assets as of September 30, 2024, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts