Three Oakland County entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses before a panel of judges later this month, competing for a top prize of $5,300 at a Southfield fundraiser built to spotlight local small businesses. The event, set for Oct. 22, gives each founder just three minutes to make their case, followed by two minutes of questions from judges who are themselves local business leaders.
The gathering marks the fourth annual Spotlight fundraiser hosted by Oakland THRIVE, a nonprofit founded in 2023 to help startups and small businesses in Oakland County through mentorship, technical and administrative support, according to The Oakland Press. It runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at the PEARLS Event Center, located at 26100 Northwestern Highway in Southfield, and is presented by Fifth Third Bank, michiganmamanews.com reports.
Three Finalists, One Shot at the Stage
The three competitors were narrowed down from an original pool of 15 entrepreneurs, per the same report. They are Cynthia Hartness, a master clinical herbalist and founder of Wildling Sanctuary, a holistic herbal apothecary, tea shop and community sanctuary in Highland; Tiana Baker, a healthcare and supply chain professional whose Lenses of Love Foundation expands access to vision care for underserved communities; and Christina “Georgee” George, a marketing graduate and founder of Yummee Pop Popcorn.
George's business makes premium small-batch popcorn with bold flavors and simple ingredients that is vegan-friendly and gluten-free, with varieties including Spicy, Caramel, and Dill Sea Salt & Vinegar, according to michiganbusiness.org. The brand is now carried in 13 specialty grocery stores and has expanded into e-commerce, corporate gifting, fundraising and custom event orders, the outlet notes. George previously received a $5,000 grant through Operations School and Black Leaders Detroit that helped fund equipment including a 52-ounce popcorn machine, per the same account.
Cash Prizes and Consulting on the Line
Whoever wins over the judges in Southfield stands to collect real money: first place pays $5,300, second place $2,500 and third place $1,500, michiganmamanews.com reports. Every participant, win or lose, will also receive six hours of consulting help from an Oakland County business professional, the outlet notes, framing the pitch competition as much a development tool as a contest.
Beyond the stage, the Spotlight fundraiser folds in community awards presented to local business leaders, a catered dinner with open bar, shopping with independent vendors and networking opportunities, according to the same report. Oakland THRIVE describes the gathering as support for its broader mission in Oakland County, noting on its website that the fundraising event supports its work to support small businesses in the region.
A Year of Growth Behind the Nonprofit
The Spotlight event arrives on the heels of a busy 2025 for Oakland THRIVE, which served 4,207 businesses and conducted more than 8,850 coaching and consulting sessions that year. The organization also hosted 102 workshop trainings and helped businesses secure approximately $630,000 in grants and $1.3 million in loans, per michiganmamanews.com's reporting.
Camille Walker Banks, CEO of Oakland THRIVE, said the nonprofit equips Oakland County small businesses with tools to succeed and provides entrepreneurs with expert guidance and support. Oakland THRIVE was also recently selected by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Small Business Support Hubs 2.0 initiative to serve Oakland County, the outlet reports, adding another layer of institutional backing to the organization's coaching and lending work.
Tickets and sponsorship information for the Oct. 22 fundraiser are available through Oakland THRIVE's website at oaklandthrive.org/events.
