In today's newsletter:

• WBEC FL contestant makes it to WBENCPitch Finals!
• Register today for Unity Week interactive online experience
• Save the Dates for our January 2026 virtual events
• Check out these national and regional opportunities

Congratulations! One of Our WBEs

Moves Up to the WBENCPitch Finals

Denise Merritt is also our 2025 WBE Star

It was a tough competition, with more than 60 contestants entered into the national semifinals from all 14 regional partner organizations around the U.S.

In the end, after 2 exciting days of online pitches, WBENC announced that the judges have selected 24 to go to the final round.

One of them is our WBEC Florida 2025 WBE Star, Denise Merritt, the CEO and founder of Merritt Business Solutions in Central Florida.

We can watch the next round of pitches online during the virtual 2025 NBIC Unity Week conference. The pitch competition is scheduled for 1:30 to 4 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 17. Contestants will vie for two grand prizes of $25,000: one for a service business, one for a product business. Good luck, Denise!

And congratulations to our other contestants who did not make the final round this year. Your pitches were all amazing. We will look for you to win the finals in 2026!

Globowl - Erica Bethe Levin

Private Label Staff - Amanda Mihnovich

Wise Owls Education - Dr. Irene Arshad

Yuj Soft Baked Granola - Massiel Villanueva

Register Today for NBIC Unity Week

When: Nov. 17-19, 2025 | Where: Online | Cost: Complimentary

NBIC Unity Week is online this year! The annual conference that celebrates diversity, opportunity, equity, and collaboration is co-hosted by WBENC and will include:

• Opening Session: Powering a New Era of Unity
• WBENC Pitch Competition Finals
• Branding for Impact: Purpose, Position, and Promise
• Cross-Segment B2B Matchmakers
• Best of the Best Awards Program
• Concurrent Educational Sessions

Save the Dates

We're already planning our programming to better serve you in 2026. You'll want to mark your calendars and click the links below to register for these upcoming events. We'll supply additional details soon.

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 12:30 p.m. – Starting Strong: Clarity. Courage. Consistency

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 11 a.m. – Manifest Your Mantra for 2026

February (date and time TBA) – Coffee with a Corporate

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 4

Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Location: University of South Florida Research Park (1st Floor Classroom), 3814 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612

National Entrepreneur Center, 3201 East Colonial Drive, Suite A-20, Orlando, FL 32803, inside the Fashion Square Mall

Learn More About the NEC

Explore Events at the NEC

Thank You to Our Sponsors

WBEC Florida and WBENC Anti-Discrimination Policy

As a community of entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and economic development thought leaders, WBENC and the WBEC Florida Regional Partner Organization are committed to the elimination of discrimination in all areas of business and the provision of equal opportunity when accessing capital, contracts, and contacts. In compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, we do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any of our policies, procedures, or practices. This anti-discrimination policy covers admission and access to, and treatment, in all programs and activities.