Missoula, MT – American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL) and American Indian Graduate Center partnered to award $20K to four Native American student entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses last month at the first annual Business Pitch Competition.
“Witnessing the students build and bring their best business ideas to this pitch competition is incredibly inspiring. We are proud of all the participants and so thankful to American Indian Graduate Center for sponsoring the competition,” said Prairie Bighorn-Blount, Executive Director of AIBL.
Each of the winners were awarded $3,500 to $6,500 to build and promote their businesses.
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Moss Bag Baby by TaNeel Filesteel, an Indigenous baby clothes and accessories merchandise company.
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Lice Angels by Xanthia Jackson, a lice removal and preventive service that uses an all-organic product line.
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Christian Lawn Care by Christian Rangel, a quality and innovate lawn care service company.
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Indigenous Awakening by Chase Comes At Night, providing Indigenous communities with quality digital news and entertainment content.
“American Indian Graduate Center is honored to invest $20,000 to support Native student entrepreneurs as they develop their businesses,” added Angelique Albert, American Indian Graduate Center’s CEO. “Partnering with AIBL for this initiative aligns perfectly with our organization’s core values and our commitment to empowering Native scholars as they pursue their academic goals and career aspirations.”
AIBL is a national organization that seeks to increase the representation of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in business and entrepreneurial ventures. It was founded at the University of Montana in 1994. Today, there are more than 75 chapters nationwide.
About AIBL The mission of AIBL is to increase the representation of American Indians and Alaska Natives in business and entrepreneurial ventures through education and leadership development opportunities. AIBL is the only American Indigenous non-profit organization solely dedicated to empowering business students in the United States. Our programs are designed to engage students in activities that stimulate, enhance, and expand educational experiences beyond traditional academic methods. To learn more about staring an AIBL chapter and our internship program, please visit www.aibl.org.
About American Indian Graduate Center American Indian Graduate Center is a national private 501(c)(3) non-profit providing scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate, graduate and professional students throughout the United States. American Indian Graduate Center and American Indian Graduate Center Scholars have awarded more than $350 million in scholarships since inception and are proud to empower Native students from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states with educational funding and academic support services. For more information, please visit www.AIGCS.org.
