Winning a $30,000 grand prize over the weekend closed out a six-week process for LaToya Ebony Sirls and other founders who were pushed to refine not just how they present, but how they build.
Sirls’ Someday Sunday brand offers plant-based, vegan bath and body products — including body creams, lip butters and shower steamers — designed to nourish skin while building daily self-care routines. Many of the products combine skincare benefits with aromatherapy, helping address concerns like dryness and dullness while creating a calming, spa-like experience at home.
The business finished with the top award Saturday during Kansas City G.I.F.T.’s Vision of Equity Business Summit and Pitch Competition at the Delta Athenaeum.
“I was hoping for it, but you just never know,” Sirls said of the victory. “Honestly, I felt good about what I pitched.”
That confidence carried through a pitch focused on scaling production and tightening operations behind the scenes. A significant portion of the funding is already mapped out, aimed at hiring a production specialist to help with in-house formulation.
Sirls is actively working to connect with local talent in chemistry and formulation through Kansas City’s Career Development Center, while also putting more intention behind marketing to grow the brand’s reach.
“I’d love to get someone who has a love for chemistry and formulation, and then we’re going to work on paid marketing so that our organic content and everything can go much further,” she said.
Sirls recently introduced such products as shower steamers and other bath items, with more in that category on the way as she builds toward increased demand tied to the World Cup.
At the same time, operations are expanding into a new production space at Elevator in North Kansas City. Sirls also has plans to bring on interns this summer as the business continues to grow and soak up new opportunities.
“I’m really excited about it all,” she said.
Behind the Scenes: Annual Pitch Competition
The annual pitch competition, organized by Kansas City G.I.F.T., brought nine founders to the stage following a six-week training program that included pitch coaching, mock judging and business development support.
The preparation period remains central to the experience, said G.I.F.T. co-founder Brandon Calloway.
“Every year, the thing that excites me the most, honestly, is the thing that we don’t get to show,” he said. “We put them through six weeks worth of pitch prep, and then we do mock pitches, seeing the evolution of the pitchers, from that to this, from the mock pitches to this, I love that.”
Participants are guided through key business fundamentals, including determining capital needs, refining financial projections, and outlining realistic growth strategies.
“We go through the process of identifying what it is that you need for your business, how that will help you, how much money you need to do it, what is the projected logical, defensible growth,” said Calloway. “When people don’t win the competition, they try to figure out how they can still hit those goals.”
Where Retail Meets Community Impact
Second place and $20,000 went to La’Nesha Fraizer, co-founder of Bliss Books & Wine. Her concept combines an independent bookstore with a wine bar, offering curated titles alongside beverages and community-focused programming.
Third place winner Tiffany Simmons of SknClusive Beauty Spa & Education Center in Raytown, Missouri, received $10,000 to support the expansion of her skincare studio.
Together, the competition awarded a total of $60,000 in prize money to participating entrepreneurs.
The space has become a gathering point for book clubs, events and conversations centered on culture and connection.
“It feels amazing. It feels unreal right now, I’m gonna go home and ugly cry,” said Fraizer.
Funding is expected to go toward expanding inventory, increasing programming and strengthening outreach efforts as the business continues to grow its footprint.
Turning Exposure into Opportunity
The Vision of Equity summit also included breakout sessions on such topics as banking and nonprofit strategy, offering a broader look at the resources available through Kansas City G.I.F.T.’s business center.
The programming is designed to extend beyond the competition, giving entrepreneurs access to tools and guidance at no cost. Calloway said the public-facing event also plays a role in connecting founders with new audiences while highlighting the range of businesses operating in Kansas City.
“Being able to bring this public and letting everybody else see the diversity and excellence of the Black businesses that we always get to see, it changes the narrative,” he said.
“This is also customer acquisition for them,” Calloway continued. “New people are learning about the businesses that we have here.”
The funding provides a boost, but the preparation process continues to influence how each founder approaches growth, he said.