Alvin A. Reid
Nov 30, 2023
Picky Eaterz captured first place and the $4,500 top prize during the Delmar MainStreet Pitch Competition on Saturday November 25, 2023 at Delmar Divine. Front from left are Paris Rollins, Picky Eaterz owner, and Jami Cox, Delmar Main Street co-chair of economic vitality committee...
The judges of the Delmar Main Street Pitch Competition on Saturday Nov. 25 at were quite selective in choosing a winning business. You might even say they were “picky.”
100 companies applied to enter the contest, and that number was reduced to 10 by bank reviewers. Five would move on to the morning competition, which was then followed by a Holiday Expo that featured 68 local vendors.
Picky Eaterz won first place and a prize of $4,500, and its founder Paris Rollins says her company “specializes in picky eater prevention in kids."
“We accomplish this by capturing children at the root, in order to create healthy eating habits early that they carry into adulthood to create a healthier life.”
She focuses on “veggies and variety,” and caters to daycare centers, schools, and camps.
“We want to expose children to a variety of healthy meals outside of fried nuggets, French fries, and hot dogs,” she said.
The six-minute pitches included an explanation of “unique value proposition,” and a demonstration of potential growth.
Entrants were asked what problems they face in their respective markets, and how their product or service solves it. Entrepreneurs were asked to highlight achievements and progress, revenue, and sales projections.
Finishing second and winning $2,000 was Heydays, a coworking space, content studio and event venue for the community founded by Keisha Mabry Haymore.
The third-place winner ($750) was Pointe of Surrender Dance Studio, founder and executive director Erica Hill.
There was tie for fourth place ($250) between A Peaceful Home Healthcare CDS, Kisha Jackson; and Ann’s Roots, Terrance and Melandie Summers.
Lisa Potts, Delmar Main Street board vice president and the event’s organizer, called her organization “a community-driven commercial corridor initiative.”
“Its mission is to create a unified, equitably developed, vibrant, and economically viable commercial corridor where entrepreneurs thrive.”
Delmar Main Street’s boundaries are from east to the city limits to Taylor Avenue.
“We utilize the Main Street Approach, a proven economic development strategy that focuses on leveraging existing assets to energize community revitalization efforts through its four committees of organization, design, economic vitality, and promotion,” said Potts a native St. Louisan who serves as Prevention Partnerships director for the St. Louis Mental Health Board.
She said Delmar Main Street will keep in touch with all the businesses that applied and competed and invite them to future events designed to support and grow their businesses.
The Metro CRA Association will be supporting that effort with financial education empowerment workshops on access to capital, business banking, business credit, and marketing.
Pitch Competition and Expo sponsors included Mastercard, US Bank, First State Bank, Commerce Bank, and the CRA Association.