Mobile Startups Win At Pitch Competition

Mobile’s Innovation Portal recently announced that its members Valencia Belle and Aiko Pickering won in their respective categories at Alabama Launchpad’s Social Impact Competition, in which participants were evaluated on their business pitches. Belle, founder of VB Ideas, won $50,000 in “Seed Stage” funding for her company’s S.C.H.O.O.L.S. (Success Can Happen Out Of Low Scores) venture, which prepares students for standardized tests to open greater opportunities through improved test scores. S.C.H.O.O.L.S. aims to provide achievement-building activities, while infusing elements of character into K-12 and collegiate curricula frameworks. Pickering is founder of Monthly, a period underwear brand with a focus on inclusivity and alleviating period poverty. She landed $25,000 in “Concept Stage” funding to help in the next phase of building her business.