From Curriculum to Crowning: Reliving The Boost Pad's Electrifying Cohort 11 Pitch Night!

Mark Babaran • November 26, 2025

Charlotte, NC – The air was buzzing with anticipation as The Boost Pad culminated months of hard work, mentorship, and entrepreneurial growth at its Cohort 11 Pitch Night on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, hosted by the Do Greater Foundation. This wasn't just an event; it was a celebration of innovation, resilience, and the immense power of community in fostering the next generation of business leaders.


The Journey of Dedication

The road to the Pitch Night stage (Week 14) was a rigorous, structured journey. The progress and dedication shown by our founders throughout the program were significant and did not go unnoticed. The momentum culminated in Week 13's intensive online Pitch Preparation Session, where every founder delivered their deck and received specialized, constructive feedback from our leadership team.


This session was designed not just to prepare the top five for the upcoming live contest, but to strategically equip all Cohort 11 participants—including the finalists and the rest of the cohort—for future high-stakes opportunities, such as introducing their companies to investors, securing grants, and forming key partnerships.


This valuable session also served as the platform for the Best Pitch Deck Award deliberation—a $500 recognition created to honor outstanding strategic presentation across the entire cohort. Leading up to the live event, our social media channels built excitement by celebrating the "unlocking" of each of the five finalists.


The Grand Finale Unfolds

The energy was palpable as the evening began. Our MC, Charles Kearse, set a high bar, immediately leading into a powerful moment of entrepreneurial inspiration. Christopher Dennis of Fix Housing Solutions kicked off the speaking segment, sharing critical insights on how founders must build housing solutions from the ground up, starting with a strong foundational vision.


Then came the moment everyone awaited: The Pitch Contest! Our five finalists—Marcus Wade, Meka Walker, Chris Valada, Cassandra Taylor, and Junior Bernard—took the stage, delivering dynamic 5-minute presentations on their visions.


Following the pitches, the founders faced a rigorous Q&A round from our distinguished Judges Panel: Christopher Dennis (Fix Housing Solutions), Lakesha Womack (ASPIRE Community Capital), and Sherry Robinson (Pinnacle Economic Empowerment Center). While the judges deliberated, Julius Edwards from the City of Charlotte delivered an inspiring special address, focusing on how strong leadership within an individual entrepreneur is the foundation for broader community and economic impact.


The True Triumph: Graduation and Awards

The excitement of the competition was matched only by the solemn pride of the graduation ceremony. The journey through Cohort 11 was demanding, requiring immense dedication from every founder.


We are profoundly proud of this cohort. The road to graduation was not easy, but they:

  • Showed exceptional excellence:
  • Surpassed the 80% attendance requirement,
  • Successfully completed all courses, and
  • Maintained very high levels of active class participation throughout the program.


This high rate of completion is a powerful testament to the sacrifice and commitment each founder poured into their development.


The awards were then announced:

  • 🥇 CHAMPION, PITCH COMPETITION ($5,000 Startup Currency): Marcus Wade, Founder of Genesis 1 Technologies LLC!
  • 🥈 BEST PITCH DECK ($500 Startup Currency): Aneelia Ma, Founder of Neelia's - Dessert Catering & Centerpiece Cakes!


The celebration peaked as Executive Director Steven Lewis and Joan Randall personally distributed graduation certificates to all Cohort 11 participants, a heartfelt acknowledgement of the magnitude of their collective achievement.


A Heartfelt Thank You

This incredible evening would not have been possible without the leadership and community that champions our founders.


A special thank you to:

  • Our core leadership team: Executive Director Steven Lewis, Joan Randall, Harold Hughes, and Charles Kearse, for their guidance and vision.
  • Our esteemed Judges Panel: Christopher Dennis (Fix Housing Solutions), Lakesha Womack (ASPIRE Community Capital), and Sherry Robinson (Pinnacle Economic Empowerment Center).
  • Our inspiring Guest Speakers: Julius Edwards (City of Charlotte), who spoke on leadership and community impact, and Christopher Dennis (Fix Housing Solutions), who spoke on foundational vision for growth.
  • Our amazing MC, Charles Kearse, for guiding us through the evening.
  • Our alumni contributor: Darren Anderson of Skyhaus Media, for capturing the evening's energy as our videographer.
  • The Do Greater Foundation, our generous and foundational partner, for consistently hosting our succesful live events.
  • All our Community Partners, and every single Cohort 11 Participant for their dedication.


Together, we are unlocking potential, fostering innovation, and building a brighter future for entrepreneurship in our community. Stay tuned for Cohort 12!


📸 Relive the Night: View the Official Photo Album!

The energy, the excitement, and the pride of Cohort 11 Pitch Night are best experienced visually. We captured every moment—from the nervous anticipation before the pitches to the celebratory graduation handshake.


Click below to view the full event album on your preferred platform:

Founder Stories & Startup Wins — The Boost Pad

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