From Vision to Victory: A Night to Remember at The Boost Pad’s Cohort 10 Pitch Night
An Unforgettable Evening of Purpose, Pitching, and Power in Community
On May 28th, the energy at Do Greater Charlotte was undeniable as The Boost Pad hosted its Cohort 10 Pitch Night—an evening filled with vision, courage, and the transformative power of community. Entrepreneurs, mentors, supporters, and industry leaders gathered to celebrate the next generation of founders building meaningful businesses with purpose.
After weeks of learning, refining, and pitching, the entrepreneurs of Cohort 10 stood confidently before a packed room to share their bold ideas. And the results were powerful.
Celebrating the Winners
- 1st Place | $5,000 Startup Currency
Whitney Shaw – Heritage Studios
Whitney delivered a compelling pitch around her Charlotte-based media and photography company that captures generational legacy through visual storytelling. Her clarity, creativity, and deep sense of purpose set her apart as a standout founder. - 2nd Place | $2,500 Startup Currency
Aleksandra Stein – Freeze Out Hunger
Aleksandra’s mission-driven pitch introduced a unique mobile cold storage solution designed to help nonprofits combat food insecurity. Her blend of passion and practical innovation made a strong impression on the judges. - 3rd Place | $1,000 Startup Currency
We look forward to spotlighting our third-place winner in the coming weeks.
Fireside Wisdom: From Hustle to High Impact
This year’s pitch night was elevated by two deeply inspiring fireside conversations, moderated by our Entrepreneur-in-Residence and MC, Pastor Charles Kearse, whose leadership has been foundational to the journey of so many founders in our network.
First, we heard from Dominique Boone, founder of Leslie’s Laundry Care. Dominique walked us through her story of launching a concierge laundry service that would go on to land a contract with the PGA Championship. Her candid reflections on resilience, vision, and growth lit a fire in the room.
We also had the honor of welcoming guest speaker Julius Edwards, a respected organizational development leader, strategic advisor, and founder of Legacy Empowerment Group. Julius brought forward a deep well of expertise on sustainable leadership, systems thinking, and personal transformation—encouraging our founders to not just build businesses, but to build themselves in the process.
Thank You to Our Judges
A heartfelt thank-you to our esteemed panel of judges, who brought wisdom, encouragement, and thoughtful feedback to the night:
Their insight played a critical role in helping our founders refine their pitches and see the broader potential of their work.
This Is What Community Looks Like
The Boost Pad Pitch Night is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of what’s possible when underrepresented founders are given the tools, support, and belief they need to thrive. From the opening words to the final hugs, the night was filled with affirmation, momentum, and the spark of new beginnings.
Get Involved with Cohort 11
As we close the chapter on Cohort 10, we’re already looking ahead to what’s next. Applications for Cohort 11 are coming soon, and we invite you to be part of this movement.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur ready to grow, a mentor looking to give back, a funder committed to equity, or a community member who believes in possibility—we need you.
Explore ways to apply, mentor, support, or donate at www.theboostpad.org
Let’s keep building. Together.
