Tanisha Burke, owner of Malaysian Lights, took home the top prize of $5,000 in the 2024 Score Charlotte “Pitch for Growth” competition, presented by U.S. Bank.
Malaysian Lights, based in Rock Hill, offers a range of handmade candles, wax melts, car diffusers, and room sprays crafted for people with scent sensitivities. Burke also won the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by the audience.
The competition was held Thursday at the Mint Museum on Randolph Road.
This year’s competition was capped at 150 applicants, with 10 finalists making in-person presentations to a panel of judges from the business community and a live audience. The competition was open to small business owners in 13 counties in North Carolina and three counties in South Carolina.
Jim Chickarello, who co-chaired the pitch competition, called it a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain visibility for their small businesses.
“It also gave them an opportunity to meet local bankers and marketing experts who can provide them with valuable feedback as they develop a business and growth plan,” he said.
In addition to Burke, other winners were:
- Nicole Anderson of Career Coaching Nicole, who came in second, winning $2,500. Anderson offers coaching services for job seekers looking to elevate their careers and navigate job transitions.
- AnnaElyse Winchester and Michael Vensamoye of Livix Media Solutions. They came in third, also winning $2,500. Livix Media offers audio-visual production services for corporate and non-profit events.
This marked the second year that US Bank has sponsored the pitch competition.
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