Pitch Black Accelerator 2023
A business Accelerator and Pitch Competition
Presented by
Midlands African Chamber
The Pitch Black Accelerator
The Midlands African Chamber (“MAC”) is a membership-based organization that enhances the robust African and African American business climate in Nebraska and the Midwest. The Chamber strives to create a positive economic impact in the Midwest by providing business opportunities, leadership, education, advocacy, and economic development.
The Pitch Black Accelerator (“PBA”) is an enterprise accelerator program designed to strengthen, energize, and support startups and small businesses led by BlPOC entrepreneurs in Nebraska and throughout the Midlands. PBA identifies black business leaders with impact-oriented solutions, addressing essential community needs while spurring sustainable growth. The Pitch Black Accelerator cohort participants will earn financial incentives and be automatically qualified to participate in the Black Pitch competition.
Who can apply
Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs lead startups and small businesses. The target audience is early-stage and revenue-generating (seed to Series A) for-profit enterprises. Applications are welcome from all industries.Benefits Overview
The Pitch Black Committee will select applicants to receive entrepreneurship and leadership training programs complemented by mentorship and network-building forums. In addition, outstanding participants will participate in the Pitch Black competition, in which the top 5 finalists will receive equity-free business funding and other business support. They will compete in the Pitch Black finale in Omaha to win up to 15k in equity-free seed funding.Program Commitment
Selected entrepreneurs will participate in a hybrid enterprise and leadership training program from February 2023 - June 2023, leading to a live, in-person pitch session at Omaha. The time commitment will be about 8 hours per month, including bimonthly training sessions along with mentorship and network-building sessions.Eligibility Requirements
For consideration, prospective candidates must meet the basic requirements:- Founder or executive of a scalable, for-profit startup.
- The company must be led or co-led by BIPOC entrepreneurs (51% owned).
- The enterprise headquarter must be in Nebraska or Iowa.
- Business must submit their application before December 31, 2022.
- May be an established legal entity that has already been in operation for six months or more or a start-up.
- The company must have been in existence for less than ten years of operation.
- Competitors must submit an introductory video of themselves and their business/organization.
- Individual entrants, or 51% of owners of corporate applicants, must be residents of the state of Nebraska or Iowa.
Primary Selection Criteria
- Must demonstrate early traction evidenced in growing usage, revenue, or other metrics. The business should have a tangible digital or physical product or service
- Potential for financial sustainability and investment.
- Potential for scalability.
- Demonstrate the quantifiable impact and time reach.
- The entrepreneurs must be able to dedicate themself to program acquisition, including enterprise training, mentorship sessions, networking events, and investor roundtable.
- Finalists are expected to meet with program peers, MAC network members, founders, and sponsors as part of their commitment. Participants are expected to adhere to a high level of personal and professional integrity, respect for one another, and accountability.
Secondary Selection Criteria
- Applications are welcome from all industries.
- The Company shall value diversity, equality, and inclusion.
- While this is not required, established businesses should have the proper business license or documentation (LLC, S or C corporation. etc.) filed with the state of Nebraska or Iowa. Start-ups are not required to have such business documentation filed at the time of the competition but will be required to notify judges of the steps they might take to start that process.
- At least one of the business owners must be a state of Nebraska resident or do business in the state of Nebraska or Iowa (Proof of residency required). You are required to attend three pitch events, in person, in Nebraska.
- Competitors must represent a business project or concept in the early stages of development or launch.
- Competitors must present a summary of a strategic business plan with the following components:
-
- Company Overview
- Mission/ vision statement of the business
- Employees (team, management, and owners)
- Problem /solution, Market analysis/ opportunity
- Products
- Target customers
- Competition (clearly differentiate your company from competitors)
- Business model /operations (i.e., production, delivery, and potential growth)
- Marketing plan/strategy
- Technology
- Financials/ investment proposal
- Presentation is time sensitive (must be 5 minutes maximum)
-
Tentative Timeline
February 4th - May 26
Friday, June 2nd - 9am-12 pm
In person
Friday, June 16th - 9am-12pm
In Person
Friday, June 30th - 5-8 pm
In Person
Saturday, July 8th - 11 am-3 pm
Program Benefits
- Opportunity to participate in an in-person Pitch Black competition.
- Leadership and entrepreneurship training.
- Regular virtual mentor meetings throughout the program to help master the curriculum and solve enterprises' specific challenges.
- Equity-free funding, mentorship, and business support.
- Opportunity to participate in exclusive networking-building forums.
- Possibility to connect and network with venture capitalists, angels, and impact investors.
Selection Process
Participants in the Pitch Black Competition will be selected based on their strengths in the following areas:- Content (Business Nature and Industry)
- Preparedness (Research and work put in)
- Pitch Skills (Persuasion and on-time delivery)
- Competitive Advantage and Potential for Growth (SWOT analysis)
- Overall Concept (Business concept, creativity, innovation, and vision)
- Community & Target Market (market size and social impact)
Prize Amounts
1st Place - $10,000
2nd Place - $5,000
3rd Place - $2,500
4th Place - $1,000
5th Place - $1,000
Investors' Pick - $5,000

Sponsorship
Sponsorship Packages
Presenting - Catalyst Sponsor
- Name on Pitch Black Awards
- Six months Power Hour events
- Recognition as the Official Presenting Sponsor of the Event
- Table for 10 at the next Gratitude Gala
- Company Logo included in promotional videos
- Three months Roll Call events
- Ubuntu Mixer invitation-only event
- Company representative to be one of the judges
- Company logo on the event backdrop
- 1-Page ad in the event program
- Promotion on social media platforms
- 1-Year of Chamber membership
- Company logo on Pitch Black event pag
- Recognition in the Pitch Black Event Page
- Company logo on Pitch Black event page with reference link
- 10 Registration for attendees
- 1 Vendor table
Platinum - Innovator Sponsor
- Official Luncheon Sponsor
- Table for 10 at the next Gratitude Gala
- Company Logo included in promotional videos
- Three months Roll Call events
- Ubuntu Mixer invitation-only event
- Company representative to be one of the judges
- Company logo on the event backdrop
- 1-Page ad in the event program
- Promotion on social media platforms
- 1-Year of Chamber membership
- Company logo on Pitch Black event pag
- Recognition in the Pitch Black Event Page
- Company logo on Pitch Black event page with reference link
- 10 Registration for attendees
- 1 Vendor table
Gold - Accelerator Sponsor
- Ubuntu Mixer invitation-only event
- Company representative to be one of the judges
- Company logo on the event backdrop
- 1-Page ad in the event program
- Promotion on social media platforms
- 1-Year of Chamber membership
- Company logo on Pitch Black event pag
- Recognition in the Pitch Black Event Page
- Company logo on Pitch Black event page with reference link
- 10 Registration for attendees
- 1 Vendor table
Silver - Partner Sponsor
- Company logo on the event backdrop
- 1/4-Page ad in the event program
- Promotion on social media platforms
- 1-Year of Chamber membership
- Company logo on Pitch Black event pag
- Recognition in the Pitch Black Event Page
- Company logo on Pitch Black event page with reference link
- 8 Registration for attendees
- 1 Vendor table
Bronze - Supporter Sponsor
- Promotion on social media platforms
- 1-Year of Chamber membership
- Company logo on Pitch Black event pag
- Recognition in the Pitch Black Event Page
- Company logo on Pitch Black event page with reference link
- 6 Registration for attendees
- 1 Vendor table
Copper - Fan Sponsor
- 1-Year of Chamber membership
- Company logo on Pitch Black event pag
- Recognition in the Pitch Black Event Page
- Company logo on Pitch Black event page with reference link
- 6 Registration for attendees
- 1 Vendor table
Vendor Table
- 1 table
- 2 Registration for attendees
Contact us
For sponsorship, partnership, volunteer opportunities, and other inquiries, please use the contact form below.