About the 2023 ¡Preparados, Listos, Pitch! Event

Nearly 300 entrepreneurs have graduated from the Good Enterprises Initiative’s Community Business Academy. We have watched these mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and cousins plan for, start, and grow their own businesses. We have seen them overcome obstacles, take risks, and face all kinds of daunting challenges in order to support their families, build wealth, and improve their communities. Lowcountry Local First believes that entrepreneurship is a powerful engine for community change and is committed to seeing these new businesses receive the attention and investment they deserve.

The 2023 “¡Preparados, Listos, Pitch!” event was held for Spanish speaking students on October 7th and gave La Academia Empresarial de la Comunidad graduates the opportunity to share their stories, ideas, vision, and plan and our judges selected one talented and driven individual to receive a $10,000 prize to help take their business to the next level.

2023 Pitch process:

- August 15: Mandatory information session in Spanish on Zoom
- September 5: Video submissions due (instructions to be shared)
- September 18: Top 5 entrepreneurs announced
  - Andrea Serrano, Glossy Jewellery
  - Corina Costa, Corina Costa Beauty Studio
  - Marielyn Oliver, Mari Oliver Realtor
  - Mario Broggi, Elena’s Empanadas & Pastas
  - Yugeily Prieto, Amelie Jewelry
- October 2-6: Individual coaching sessions scheduled with top 5 entrepreneurs
- October 7: ¡Preparados, Listos, Pitch! 11AM – 1PM | Charleston County Main Library, 68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401

The 2023 Ready, Set, Pitch! $10,000 grand prize was awarded to Andrea Serrano of Glossy Jewellery. Glossy Jewellery is a family-owned company that offers modern, elegant and custom jewelry. The financial prize will be utilized to incrementally grow and expand the business, allowing Andrea to expand into new wholesale opportunities. Read more.

A special thank you to the 2023 coaches and judges: