Meet the 2021 Courage to Earn More Comcast Business Pitch Competition Winners

For the fourth year now the participants of the Courage to Earn More retreat gathered to share best practices, build each other up and hone in on how to help their passions thrive. You’d think that taking this event virtual, which used to be held at a hotel in the Bay Area, would change the camaraderie created among attendees. But you’d be wrong. The women—and one man–joined forces over Zoom to create a space that fostered creativity and learning. The retreat focuses on helping small business owners and creators plan and collaborate on their business ideas. 

Throughout the three-day event, brought to life by Bay Area influencer Brandi Jeter, attendees participated in co-working sessions, listened to guest speakers and presented their business ideas in Hot Seats. On the third and final day, attendees were invited to participate in the second annual Comcast Business pitch competition. 

Participants pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges who would then determine the three businesses that would be taking home the prizes. At stake was a grand prize of $2,500 and second and third place prizes of $1,500 and $1,000 respectively. In addition to the monetary prizes, competitors were also offered pro bono consulting services from various judges.  

Congratulations to all the individuals who participated and to the businesses that took home the prizes. 

Allaya Cooks-Campbell – Grand Prize Winner 

While working as a yoga teacher, I saw firsthand how creative, mindfulness-based stress reduction practices left people feeling energized and inspired. Taking care of people so they can show up at their best isn’t just a buzzword – it makes good sense. While leading yoga and meditation classes for companies all over New York City, I started to notice common features in companies with thriving staff versus the ones with low morale. 

The funds from Comcast Business are allowing me to publish my findings in my book, Rethinking Nine-to-Five. In it, I present research from the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, productivity, employee health, and neuroscience to explain how to optimize workplaces for the best results. In the companion course, I help entrepreneurs and human resources teams alike to identify opportunities for change that can work regardless of the industry, time, or budget concerns.  

Now, as the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted nearly 70 percent of our workforce to a remote model overnight, the boundaries between work and leisure are even less clear – and stress is at an all-time high. I’m so thankful to Courage To Earn and Comcast for giving me this timely opportunity to share my research and improve the well-being of people everywhere. 

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogawithallaya/ or on her site: https://yogawithallaya.com/  

Ravelle Worthington – 2nd Place Winner 

Mommy Brain is a growing community of over 50,000 that’s democratizing all aspects of maternal health through our digital education and support platform, making mental and emotional wellness affordable and accessible. We’re a women-led team, where three out of four of our therapists and coaches are BIPOC. 

Mothers everywhere are being underserved. Even more so now that we are experiencing a global pandemic. One in five women are affected by a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD). PMAD symptoms can begin affecting women 1-2 days after birthing — mothers don’t have the critical support, both from a medical standpoint or at home. 

Mommy Brain therapists and coaches are on-hand to offer guidance with postpartum anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. We’re also providing a safe space to talk through the changes in the relationship with yourself and others. This grant from Comcast Business will help Mommy Brain to hire more mental health specialists to expand support for the moms within our community. 

Join us today or gift a subscription to a new mama in your life: https://mommybrain.com/membership. Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mommy_brain  

Elisha and Elyssa Fernandez – 3rd Place Winner 

WhollyART, our sister-run business, is expanding thanks to the prize from the Courage To Earn x Comcast Business Pitch Competition. The I LOVE ME course, educational materials, and community will build teens’ self-esteem, empower them to become bullyproof, and teach essential life skills to set them up for success. 

Our course will help lonely and frustrated teens achieve deep, meaningful connections, understand their own emotions and become comfortable with expressing themselves. 

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whollyart  

Or on our site: https://www.whollyart.com