GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Three entrepreneurs of color who won a competition hosted by Grand Rapids-based StartGarden are now among 250 semifinalists in the entrepreneurship competition founded by Grammy Award-winning record producer and artist Pharrell Williams.
The three semi-finalists – Michael Hyacinth, Andrea Wallace and Darren Riley – will be given the opportunity to join a mentorship cohort, while the grand prize winner will be announced in November.
The competition, called “Black Ambition,” offers participants the opportunity to learn and network with business leaders as well as compete for $1 million in prize money.
The competition is designed to provide opportunities for “underrepresented entrepreneurs” with the goal of “closing the racial opportunity and wealth gap by fostering an environment where innovation can thrive.”
The three semi-finalists founded the following companies:
Wimage Tech: Hyacinthe is the founder of Wimage Tech, an interactive application that allows children to interact with Wimmee, a fictional character from the hit PBS children’s show, “Wimme’s World.” Hyacinthe previously won Start Garden’s 5×5 Night in 2020 and the Start Garden 100 event the following year.
OPNR: Wallace is the founder of OPNR, which is described as “an online platform built and designed to serve the independent music community.” According to the platform’s website, the platform acts as a bridge between “promoters and local artists who want the opportunity to support national artists.” Wallace won The 100 event at Start Gardens in 2022.
Just Air: Riley is the founder of Just Air, an online tool that “provides critical health and environmental insights through a hyperlocal community air quality monitoring network.” Riley competed in Start Garden’s The 100 competition, served as the organization’s first “entrepreneur in residence” last year, and won $150,000 from Google for Startups Founders Funds in June.
The three-person Black Ambition competition was founded by Williams, who is described in a news release as a “recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer” and entrepreneur.
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