elevate

Describe the problem your solution addresses? (150 word limit)

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minority-owned small businesses in the United States. According to McKinsey & Company, this is primarily for two reasons: they tend to face underlying issues that make it more difficult to run successfully, and they are more likely to be connected to industries most immediately affected by the pandemic. Given this, it is more vital than ever to ensure that these businesses survive in the current circumstances. There’s a need for owners looking to gain exposure and find resources to grow, and for customers and allies looking to support more BIPOC owned, ethical, and sustainable businesses. We aim to address this problem by providing both consumers and BIPOC businesses a medium for connecting with one another, allowing individuals to find small businesses to support and startups to build their consumer base. We want minority entrepreneurs to elevate their campaigns while shoppers elevate their positive impact.

Why did you pick this solution and how does it address the problem? (150 word limit)

Elevate combines the best features from Reddit, TikTok, and Kickstarter to provide a platform on which sustainably-minded BIPOC entrepreneurs can share their business ideas for crowdfunding. This application includes resources about conscious consumerism, increases accessibility to eco-friendly alternatives, and amplifies underrepresented voices in the business space.

Elevate eliminates influencer marketing by removing the ‘social’ aspect of competitor apps and instead focuses on the people behind the brand. The platform’s ‘Lobby’ includes an elevator chart where people can anonymously upvote ideas for businesses to rise up the ranks to gain more exposure. The Lobby also includes a daily livestream feature of a randomly selected business, where potential customers can learn more and back the project.

With ‘Elevator Pitch’ storefronts, businesses gain a dedicated customer base and the opportunity to be seen by investors, while also enabling customers to round up to the nearest dollar to back other charitable organizations.

Video link is on loom.com (included in links)