Baltimore Homecoming has announced the five finalists of the Crab Tank Entrepreneurship Program, after a public voting period which ran from Aug. 21 to Sept. 4.
Baltimore Homecoming mobilizes and empowers the city’s most accomplished natives and alumni from around the world to invest in the city and support its communities.
The Crab Tank Entrepreneur Program boosts local businesses by providing a platform for Baltimore innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their work and receive guidance from a network of Baltimore’s most esteemed business leaders and alumni. The program launched in 2019 and has since been a cornerstone of Baltimore Homecoming’s community engagement for local businesses. Nearly 90 companies applied to the Crab Tank program this year.
The five finalists are:
- Mack Anderson, Zenjoy: a canned tea made with adaptogenic substances for stress and anxiety relief.
- Nicole Foster & Dwight Campbell, Cajou Creamery: the nation’s first Black-owned cashew milk brand that sells plant-based frozen desserts with less than 200 calories per serving.
- Chris Frew, BioBozz Networks: an online platform that connects employers with job seekers with highly specialized skills in the life sciences.
- Jen Fry, Coordle: a phone app that streamlines youth sports travel by providing comprehensive, real-time information in a central hub. The advanced platform simplifies coordination, enhancing efficiency and communication for coaches, parents, and athletes.
- Jasmine Jones, Myya: the first direct-to-consumer post-mastectomy brand to sell post-mastectomy bras, breast prostheses, and other post-mastectomy supplies.
“The response from the public has been incredible, and we are thrilled to see these five innovative entrepreneurs move forward in the competition,” said Mandy Snyder, executive director of Baltimore Homecoming. “Each of these businesses represents the best of Baltimore’s entrepreneurial spirit, and we are excited to see how they will continue to grow and impact our community.”
The finalists advance to the final stage of the Crab Tank program, pitching their businesses at Baltimore Homecoming’s signature event in 2025 for a chance at the $25,000 grand prize and a $2,500 people’s choice award. Before the event, the finalists will participate in programs with some of Baltimore’s leading businesses and organizations, including Brown Advisory, Greater Baltimore Committee, and UpSurge, to help them prepare and refine their pitches.
“This group of finalists epitomizes the creativity, energy and optimism that makes Baltimore the great city it is,” said Augie Chiasera, M&T Bank Executive Vice President. “Being deeply invested in serving our community, we recognize the special value entrepreneurs bring to our local economy and we look forward to the continued success of all participants.”
Past Crab Tank winners include Hiatus Cheesecake; WhitePaws RunMitts, a Black-owned outdoor gear company sold in REI Co-op stores; and Femly, a company providing healthier feminine care products and education through partnerships and bathroom dispensers. Learn about each of the past Crab Tank winners by clicking this link.
For more information about the Crab Tank Entrepreneurship Program and this year’s finalists, click this link.
