INNOVATE TO ELEVATE:
The Community Impact Pitch 

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Join us at the Horizons Summit on June 11, 2025 in New Orleans to witness six dynamic startups compete for a $5,000 cash prize and the opportunity to be considered for the JFFLabs Impact Accelerator. Their mission? To deliver innovative solutions that drive economic advancement and empower individuals and communities to thrive. 

2023 Pitch Competition winners, Flikshop VR

Jessica Snow, vice president of FlikshopVR, won the 2023 inaugural Horizons Pitch Competition for her startup’s use of virtual reality technology in correctional facilities.

What’s Happening 

  • Jobs for the Future (JFF) proudly presents the Horizons 2025 pitch competition, spotlighting innovative learning solutions designed to tackle economic challenges and barriers. 
  • This year’s theme, Innovate to Elevate: The Community Impact Pitch, invites entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas for inclusive wealth-building, entrepreneurial opportunities, and alternative structures for work. 
  • Six early-stage startups will be selected from a pool of 25–50 qualified applicants, ensuring a diverse and robust lineup of solutions that inspire lasting change. 

Why Apply 

  • Finalists receive scholarships to attend the Horizons Summit, connecting them with industry leaders, potential investors, and the broader JFF network.
  • Participants will present a five-minute pitch to a distinguished panel of judges, competing for:
    • A $5,000 seed investment
    • Consideration for the JFFLabs Impact Accelerator 

Applications open in February 2025 for early-stage startups to submit their ideas. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this transformative experience!

Who Should Apply 

We’re looking for mission-driven innovators passionate about creating solutions that empower communities and promote economic mobility. 

Ideal applicants include: 

  • Mission-Driven Entrepreneurs: Founders focused on creating opportunities for populations facing systemic barriers. 
  • Early-Stage or Scaling Entrepreneurs: Startups in the pilot phase or those ready to scale proven concepts with the potential to make a lasting impact. 

Key Areas of Focus 

This year’s competition emphasizes solutions that support economic empowerment and tackle systemic challenges. We’re especially interested in innovations aligned with: 

  • Entrepreneurship as Career Support: Scaling small businesses, particularly those led by JFF’s North Star populations: people without a four-year degree, people of color and women of all backgrounds with a four-year degree, and people with criminal records. 
  • Wealth-Building Models: Creating opportunities for financial stability through access to resources, tools, and education. 
  • Alternative Work Structures: Designing flexible models like the four-day work week, job sharing, and other approaches that promote productivity and work-life balance. 
  • Income Generation: Exploring tech-driven and unconventional income sources, including gig work and cooperative models. 
  • Parental Support: Addressing the needs of parents facing systemic barriers to advancement with solutions for child care, flexible work options, and parental leave.

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