Pitch with Pride

Overview

Join us for Pitch with Pride, a dynamic event where Iowa's LGBTQ+-owned businesses, ally-owned enterprises, and LGBTQ-focused nonprofits take the spotlight to pitch their organizations for a chance to win vital funding and elevate their impact.

This isn't just a competition — it's a celebration of resilience, innovation, and community. As proud members of the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce take the stage, you’ll discover trailblazing entrepreneurs and mission-driven organizations, while connecting with values-aligned businesses where you can invest your support and spend with purpose. Whether you're here to cheer them on, grow your network, or find new ways to align your dollars with your values, you're in the right place.

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Event Schedule

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5:00 - 5:40 pm

Social hour with hors d'oeuvres, raffle, and live entertainment from Iowa Pride Ensembles. Cash bar and full food menu available from SingleSpeed Brewing.

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5:40 - 7:00 pm

Cheer on our businesses and nonprofits as they take the spotlight to pitch their organizations with pride for a chance to win valuable prizes. The top three pitch entrants will receive cash prizes, including $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second, and $1,000 for third. Additionally, an Audience Choice award will be presented based on onsite fundraising and raffle proceeds.

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7:00 - 8:00 pm

Have a drink, meet the pitch contestants, and network while our judges deliberarte. The evening will conclude with sponsor remarks, winner announcements, raffle prize drawings, and closing remarks.

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The Judges

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Paul H. Richardson, Jr.

Paul H. Richardson, Jr. is the Founder and CEO of Tumbleweed, a purpose-driven tech company helping families navigate aging, caregiving, and legacy planning with greater ease and compassion. With a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology and a background in healthcare and technology, Paul brings a people-first lens to innovation, leadership, and impact.

As an openly gay founder and former board member of the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, Paul is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. He actively mentors queer-identifying founders and champions opportunities that foster visibility, belonging, and economic growth within the LGBTQ+ community.

Through his leadership at Tumbleweed and beyond, Paul is committed to building a future where every person—and every story—is honored with dignity and care.

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Jacki Boldt

Jacki Boldt serves as the Executive Director for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Iowa and has supported the program since it originated in Iowa in 2019. Prior to this, she worked in a variety of roles at Des Moines Area Community College focusing on workforce development and employee training initiatives in the central Iowa region. Jacki holds an MS in Business Analytics and undergraduate degrees in Business and Education.

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Gabe Wells

Gabe Wells is a Commercial Banking Officer with Fortress Bank. Currently residing in the Quad Cities, he grew up in rural Southern Iowa, earned his undergraduate degree at Simpson College, and his MBA through the University of Iowa – Tipple School of Business.

Gabe has 20 years in commercial finance experience, the last 10 as a commercial banker at community banks in Portland, OR, and Davenport, IA. He works with business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on their needs for most forms of commercial financing and day to day banking services.

In his free time he enjoys traveling, cooking and experiencing food and drink from around the globe. He believes many of the world’s problems could be solved by sitting down with someone, in their space, and sharing their favorite meal while hearing the story of what that meal means to them. Also, as a dad to a 7 and 9 year old, he is mastering the art of the dad joke and reading books and stories in the most obnoxious voices he can come up with.

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Tony Tandeski

Tony Tandeski is a designer, data enthusiast, digital marketer, and entrepreneur with a diverse background at the intersection of content and digital strategy. Tony's experience includes brand development, UX design, SEO, content marketing, and data analytics. He currently serves as a web analyst at ClearanceJobs, where he leads SEO and website optimization efforts. Previously, Tony was a senior digital specialist at Lessing-Flynn, overseeing SEO strategy, user experience, content development, and web projects. Before transitioning to digital, Tony built a career in television news, advancing to executive producer and managing newsroom operations. In 2019, Tony co-founded The Rook Room, a gaming events and products company focused on building inclusive community experiences. Outside of work, Tony is active on several boards at Drake University and within the Des Moines community. In 2023, Tony was named one of Des Moines’ Forty Under 40.