AltCap is thrilled to mark the successful close of the 10th annual AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition, a landmark event that showcased the talent and tenacity of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community.

More than 200 attendees filled Union Station’s City Stage Theatre for a sold-out celebration of ACYB’s Decade of Impact and the small-business innovation that continues to shape our region.

Ten Kansas City-area entrepreneurs — selected from dozens of impressive applications after two rounds of judging — took the stage to compete for a record $60,000 in prizes. Their compelling pitches showcased not only the strength of their business models and creativity but also their commitment to strengthening the communities they serve.

After their live presentations and score tabulations, the judges awarded the $35,000 Grand Prize to E-Z Pedicabs and the $20,000 Second Place Prize to MOC BOD. The Fan Favorite Award of $5,000 was delivered to HerCafe, chosen by public vote.

E-Z Pedicabs, founded by Atticus Sloan and Mark Manning, is a pedicab transportation service providing rides, event/shuttle service, and advertising.

MOC BOD, founded by Christy Vincent, is a safe, welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to shop, socialize, and receive personal care services. They house a barber/cosmetologist, two massage therapists, and a tattoo artist, as well as a retail collection built for the LGBTQ+ community.

HerCafe, founded by Yasmen Hassen and Lujyn Elsayed, is Kansas City's first mobile matcha cart on a mission to build community throughout the KC metro one hand-whisked drink at a time.

This year’s finalists represented a diverse cross-section of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with industries ranging from wellness and education to entertainment and retail.

In addition to the winners, other Top 10 finalists included AuraMed Spa and Wellness, Bliss Books & Wine, Dog Mom Club, Golazo, ICE Studios School of Dance, Project IOTA, and Someday Sunday.

Each founder brought heart, ingenuity, and a deep commitment to community, embodying the spirit that has defined AltCap Your Biz for the past decade.

A huge thank you and congratulations to each founder and their teams for their participation and growth throughout this competition.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary, this year’s event also featured the first-ever ACYB Food Tour, spotlighting AltCap food and beverage borrowers and past ACYB winners: Take Care by OLEO, Billie’s Grocery, Fetterman’s Deli, Kobi Q, Urban Cafe, and 2024 ACYB Grand Prize winner Brown Suga*. Their participation added a delicious culinary element, making the evening even more memorable.

Special thanks to our sponsors — PNC Bank, Academy Bank, Lead Bank, UMB Bank, the KC Chamber, and the Bank of Labor — for helping make this milestone event possible.

We also extend our gratitude to our community partners, KC G.I.F.T., for their exceptional six-week pitch training support, and Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City for hosting a week of impactful programming for small businesses and entrepreneur support organizations.

Thank you to our incredible emcee, Katie Gilchrist, for hosting the evening with grace and energy. And thank you to the amazing members of our band for the evening, the1994project, whose fantastic, nostalgia-infused music kept us dancing all night.

We look forward to another decade of lifting up Kansas City founders and helping bold ideas become thriving businesses.

We’ll see you next year!