KAPITUS ANNOUNCES SMALL BUSINESS FINALISTS IN COMPETITION FOR $250,000 IN CASH AWARDS

Finalists selected based on creativity, enthusiasm, and passion – now look to the public to help determine winners.
September 19, 2022
NEW YORK, NY – Kapitus, a leading provider of financing for small and medium sized businesses, today announced the finalists in its inaugural Building Resilient Businesses (BRB) Contest that will award $250,000 in cash prizes to small business owners across the U.S. A total of seven prizes will be awarded – one 1st place prize of $100,000, one 2nd place prize of $50,000 and five 3rd place prizes of $20,000.
In the first step of the competition, each small business that entered submitted a video sharing their small business story and how $100,000 would help them to continue writing that story. A total of 15 finalists have been selected from hundreds of small business video entries, coming from 37 states across the U.S. Finalists were chosen based on scores received in the initial judging round that were based on the storytelling, creativity, enthusiasm, and passion portrayed in their video submissions.
In the next phase of the competition, Kapitus is asking the public to help choose the winners by viewing the video entries and voting for their favorite small business. Voting opens on Monday, September 19, 2022, at 1:00 pm EDT and runs through Monday, October 10, 2022, at 11:59 pm PDT.
The finalists of Kapitus’ Building Resilient Businesses Contest include (in alphabetical order):
1 Black People Will Swim – Long Island, NY – Smashing the stereotype that Black people don’t swim, Black People Will Swim is based on four foundational pillars encouraging people to F.A.C.E. (Fun. Awareness. Community. Education) their fears.
2 Brash Brownies – Winston-Salem, NC – A mobile, Black woman-owned, bakery with small batch desserts based on old family recipes and innovative imagination. Brash Brownies is bringing Louisiana culture to North Carolina.
3 Courtside ATL – Lithonia GA – Creating VIP basketball experiences where anyone can participate, by deconstructing the game into: Shoot, Dribble & Pass. We employ tech features to transform, gamify and transfer content for elevated experiences.
4 Fat Lady Cake’s – Amherst, NY – Fat Lady’s Cakes and Pies specializes in the creation of gourmet desserts made from all natural ingredients. From classics to new innovations, we offer a full range of flavorful treats.
5 Frères Branchiaux Candle Co – Indian Head, MD – Frères Branchiaux Candle Co. is a mission-based company that creates vegan fragrance products. Founders Collin, Ryan, and Austin Gill have donated $40K to homeless shelters through sales of their products.
6 Kai’s Kookies – Houston, TX – Specialty bakery offering low-carb gluten-free treats with no added sugar. Inspired by a father and daughter who recreated their baking style due to allergies and a commitment to improving health.
7 Monolith Games – Siloam Springs, AR – A small husband- and wife-owned board and card game shop. We have created a safe space where people can hang out, play games, and above all – be themselves.
8 Play Pits – Atlanta, GA – 100% all-natural deodorant, free of aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and harsh chemicals. Play Pits is a mother’s solution to providing a kid-friendly, all-natural hygiene option for youth with active lifestyles.
9 Postal Petals – West Hollywood, CA – A new way for people to enjoy the beauty of flowers through the experience of arranging them. Fresh cut flowers are shipped nationwide for customers to create their own DIY floral arrangements.
10 Stir it Up – Fairbanks, AK – Inspired by a little boy with allergies and a town lacking options, Stir It Up provides options for your dietary lifestyle, guaranteed. A women-owned company specializing in gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and low-carb options.
1 Strands of Faith – Pearl, MS – SOF is a conscious beauty brand curated and formulated with cruelty free rich ingredients to nourish, restore and refresh textured strands while increasing moisture-length retention and overall healthy hair.
1 Superfit Hero – Los Angeles, CA – Superfit Hero is the world’s most inclusive line of premium plus size activewear for women, with sizes L-7XL. Fitness is for Every Body.
1 TFTI Experience – Houston, TX – Houston’s original photo experience. 15+ creative installations for jaw-dropping photos including Infinity Mirrors, LOVE Letters, Upside Down room, DJ Confetti Room and more. TFTI has something fun for everyone.
2 the Enchanted Rose Emporium – Vancouver, WA – Providing a unique collection of vintage style gifts and craft supplies emphasizing sustainability and teaching classes in the handcrafting skills of yesterday to children and adults – preserving these art forms.
3 The Tree Yoga Cooperative – South Los Angeles, CA – Black and Latina-Owned hub of holistic wellness and community support. We provide accessible, inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally centered yoga classes and training to all body types, abilities and ages.
The official winners of the Building Resilient Businesses Contest will be announced in November 2022.
The contest marks the official kick-off of Kapitus’ larger Building Resilient Businesses Initiative, a program dedicated to giving back to the small business community through programs and initiatives that offer the financial help, educational resources, and products and services they need to grow their business and remain resilient.
To vote for your favorite finalist visit: https://kapitus.com/brb-vote/ (voting is now closed).
About Kapitus
Founded in 2006, Kapitus is one of the most experienced and trusted names in small business financing. As both a direct lender and a marketplace with an expansive network of financing partners offering a variety of products, Kapitus has provided over $4 billion in growth capital to over 50,000 small businesses. Kapitus, either directly or through trusted partners, offers products tailored to the need of every small business including term loans, sales-based financing, SBA loans, equipment leases, and revolving lines of credit.