Capital Connects 2023 Pitch Competition Winners Announced

Greensboro, N.C. – Launch Greensboro named Sarilla and Hybridwerx the 6-Minute and 2-Minute winners respectively at its annual pitch competition, Capital Connects, on March 15 at Union Square Campus. Sarilla is an award-winning 0% alcohol sparkling beverage made with organic, fair trade tea leaves and botanicals grown from regenerative farming, and Hybridwerx provides camera-based solutions to help streamline administrative processes and reduce risk in workplaces with a current focus on surgeons. Sarilla was awarded $7,500 and in-kind services as their prize, while Hybridwerx received $1,500 and in-kind services.

Twelve other up-and-coming businesses pitched at Capital Connects including: Acuity Health, AE Academics, Airzey, Beam Dynamics, Champly, DEI Directive, Digital Health Navigation Solutions, Fresh AF, Little Light Series, Minerva Lithium, Renaissance Fiber, and Riot Golf. Audience members voted LittleLight Series, a literary and arts education company with a mission to energize, enlighten, and empower kids through children’s books, art classes and more, the Fan Favorite of the night.

Ursula Dudley Oglesby and the Dudley Family received the 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The Dudleys are a multigenerational family of entrepreneurs. Over the course of 50+ years, the Dudleys have run a magazine, a hotel, a travel agency, and a broad network. Most notably, they founded the global beauty brand, Dudley Beauty Corp, and the cosmetology university, Dudley Cosmetology University. At the helm of Dudley Beauty Corp is Ursula Dudley Oglesby, who took over the family business from her parents in 2008. Ursula is a respected business leader and humanitarian, and her driving force is to help change the economic base of the African American community in Greensboro.

Running for more than 20 years, Capital Connects, presented by Launch Greensboro and lead sponsor TowneBank, serves as a bridge between investors and entrepreneurs seeking capital for their companies. For more information, visit capitalconnects.org.

About Launch Greensboro

Launch Greensboro is the entrepreneurship arm of the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce. LaunchGreensboro accelerates growth for local entrepreneurs through education, mentoring and access to capital. For more information, visit launchgreensboro.com.