YEAH Philly & MZA Legal Present
The EYE Project Pitch Competition
Got a business idea? Enter the EYE Project Pitch Competition for a chance to win $1,000, a professional photo shoot, and the chance to receive professional assistance to grow your business!
Click the button below to apply by November 11th, 2022. On November 16th, up to ten finalists will present their business idea live for the chance to win up to $1,000. Don’t miss this opportunity to jumpstart your business.
What is the EYE Project?
What We Do
The Empowered Youth Entrepreneurs Project (EYE Project) is an initiative of YEAH Philly, developed in partnership with MZA Legal. The EYE Project began 2020 with a business incubator for teenage entrepreneurs, providing participants with coaching and funding to help them launch their businesses. In the end our goal is to create community; And in the process, build a support network for Philadelphia's next generation of Black entrepreneurs.
How We Do It
The EYE Project aims to celebrate, recognize, and empower the creativity of Philadelphia's Black youth. In November 2022 we held our first pitch competition and awarded $1,000 each to five young entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses. In January 2023 we launched "Startup Saturdays", a bi-monthly workshop teaching the basics of entrepreneurship. and introduce them to business owners in their neighborhood. Through the connections created by the EYE Project, aspiring entrepreneurs are provided with the support they need to achieve their dreams.
Why We Do It
Business ownership is one of the key drivers of wealth creation. Black Americans, who as a group possess less wealth than any other ethnic group, are also less likely to own a business than any other ethnic group. The EYE Project aims to support Black self-empowerment, by creating spaces that empower young Black entrepreneurs to thrive. Our goal is to develop a network of Black entrepreneurs helping one another unlock their full potential.
It Takes a Village
We need your support! We are looking for volunteers who can inform and inspire our young entrepreneurs. Are you an entrepreneur, business owner, or investor looking to give back?
Click the button below and fill out our volunteer form to learn how to volunteer during upcoming EYE Project events.
More Information
To apply you must:
- Be 16-24 years-old as of October 14th, 2022
- Identify as Black, African-American or part of the African diaspora
- Live in the city of Philadelphia
Finalists will be selected by YEAH Philly based on creativity, innovation, and how well the business or idea fills an important need in Philadelphia.
You can apply by completing and submitting this form. Applications will be accepted through November 11th, 2022.
All applications will be considered, and up to 10 finalists will be selected. Finalists will be announced on November 13th, 2022 via YEAH Philly’s Instagram. Finalists will be notified individually via text or phone call, and will receive more information about the live pitch competition on November 16th at that time.
The prizes for this competition are
- 1st Place – $1,000
- 2nd Place – $500
- 3rd Place – $250
First, second and third place will also be offered professional assistance for their business in one or more of the following areas:
- financial management
- website design
- social media marketing
- product development
All finalists will be invited to participate in a professional group photoshoot.
The pitch competition will be held at the HIVE at Spring Point on Wednesday November 16th, at 6pm. A limited number of tickets to attend for non-finalists will be made available in the coming weeks.
The EYE Project is an initiative of YEAH Philly, created and developed in partnership with MZA Legal.
Yes. The pitch competition is a celebration of Black creativity and innovation. All are welcome to join!
Tickets are free, but limited! So click here to grab yours now.