For Small Business Week 2025, Startup Savannah held GRIT pitch! on May 8th, awarding $5000 in cash prizes to four local entrepreneurs.

The pitch competition’s top prize was awarded to Bradley Wilkerson, who pitched his service MacroText, which allows users to track their macros and calories by sending a text message in conversational language.

The full list of winners are the following:

• First Place, $2500: Bradley Wilkerson, MacroText

• Second Place, $1250: Zach Rebro, Prevail Tactical

• Third Place, $750: Jen Schroeder, Blue Poppy Silks

• Audience Choice, $500: Madeline Crocker, Little Star Parlor

“This Small Business Week 2025, our organization is so excited to shine a spotlight on local entrepreneurs and innovators, providing them with the opportunity to both bring their ideas before the community and to win real money to propel their businesses,” says Nick Palumbo, Executive Director of Startup Savannah. “All of the night’s competitors had incredible pitches, and the winners were undoubtedly deserving. We are so excited to start up their journey.”

The competition was judged by an all-star panel of Savannah business leaders: Bert Brantley, CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce; Jesse Dillon, COO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority; Radford “Rad” Harrell, Startup Catalyst with ATDC and CEO of TalentSoup; Bates Lovett, City Attorney of the City of Savannah and Partner with Pierson Ferdinand; and Judge Tammy Stokes, Judge of the Chatham County Superior Court.

The event and prize money were made possible by sponsorship from the Savannah Economic Development Authority.