6th Annual Conference

Pitch Black Conference

A Business Conference, Business Expo and Pitch Competition dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the Midwest.

2026 Theme:

Culture. Capital. Change.

Saturday, May 2nd, 2026

9 AM - 5 PM

MCC Institute for the Culinary Arts

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What is Pitch Black?

Fueling Entrepreneurship in the Midwest

Pitch Black is a dynamic, one-day conference strategically crafted to fuel entrepreneurship across diverse communities in the Midwest. We create pathways between emerging entrepreneurs and the investors, mentors, and resources they need to scale.

The competition is specifically tailored to offer a platform for underserved entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and compete for life-changing resources.

By facilitating connections between emerging entrepreneurs and potential investors, mentors, and essential resources, our conference strives to invigorate economic growth and champion diversity in the local economy.

The Competition

Five carefully selected finalists present to a panel of industry experts and a live audience, competing for a grand prize package worth over $85,000 in cash and technical assistance.

$24.5K

Cash Prizes

Cash prizes for the competing businesses

$59K

Techinical Assistance

Marketing, legal, accounting & more

5

Finalists

Carefully selected underserved entrepreneurs

6

Years of Impact

30 businesses have received funding so far

Higligthts from Past Conferences

Conference Theme

CULTURE. CAPITAL. CHANGE.

Culture: Our stories shape our brands

Capital: Financial and social resources fuel growth

Change: Economic empowerment transforms communities

Conference Features

Full-day access to everything

Keynotes & Panels

Hear from prominent business leaders, investors, and innovators who've built from the ground up. Real stories, real strategies, no fluff.

Business Exposition

A curated marketplace of businesses and service providers. Shop, connect, and expand your network in one vibrant, energized space.

Pitch Competition

Five carefully selected finalists present live to a panel of industry experts and a captivated audience, competing for the grand prize package.

Business Networking

Structured and organic opportunities to connect with investors, mentors, and potential partners — the relationships that matter most for growth.

Workshops & Education

Hands-on sessions covering business strategy, fundraising, marketing, and operations. Leave with tools you can implement the next day.

Awards Ceremony

Celebrate the finalists and crown the 2026 Pitch Black winner at a live awards ceremony — an electrifying close to an unforgettable day.

2026 Pitch Black Finalists

Shinnice Preston

Zuri and Me

Shatice Jones

Nava Living Co

Sharnelle Shelton

CoreScience Biodiagnostics

Rachel Gai

Upstitch Studio LLC

Regina Tate

ART of Homecare Training Center

Destiny Williams

Upstitch Studio LLC

Emcee & Keynote Speakers

Keele Taylor

CEO, Chief Human Resources Officer of HRMinded Consulting Services

Emcee

Randy J. Goodwin

Actor, Director and CEO of Fallen Giants Films

Keynote Speaker

Speakers and Panelists

Mogien Boyd

Executive Director of Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs

Arshad Rana

President and Owner of NP Marts Group

April Hibbler

Executive Program Lead for the Nebraska Opportunity Exchange (NOE)

Deon Barnes

Co-founder and CEO of Stable Gray

Emily Brewer

Community Development Manager at Millwork Commons

Fidele Mienso

COO, Midlands African Chamber

Folly Teko

Co-founder of Afromaha

Folly Gnininvi

Technical Operations Engineer at Cox

Jared Hall

CEO of 3AM Luxury

Karine Sokpoh

Founder and CEO of the Midlands African Chamber, and 402Legal

Quincy Christian

Operations leader, Cox Communications

Scott Henderson

Managing Principal of NMotion

Terri D Sanders

CEO of the Omaha Star

Terence Ross

Business Relationship Manager at Chase Bank

Tiffany Gamble

Founder and CEO of Gamble Tech Firm and Emerging Ladies Academy

Tumi Oluyole

Entrepreneur, Recording Artist, Filmmaker, Certified Public Accountant, and Business Leader

Xavier Jackson

CEO-Founder of The Local Art Plug

Judges

Veta jeffery

President, Jeffery Consultants

Rob Trebilcock

Sr. Manager, Public Affairs at Cox Communications

Tony Aguillera

Community Outreach Specialist, JE Dunn Construction

Andee Hoig

CEO, Midlands Business Journal

Dr. Emmah Muema

Program Manager for 1 Million Cups (1MC)

Our Sponsors

Sponsors who believe

Tickets

Register before April 10, 2026

Individual Ticket – Members

^$130

Full-day access to all conference programming (keynotes, panels, business expo, pitch competition, and networking).

Individual Ticket – Non Members

^$140