START.PIVOT.GROW. Awards $40K to Founders at GrowthTech Summit; Honors Melissa Bradley

LAS COLINAS, Texas - EntSun -- START.PIVOT.GROW. (SPG), an AI-powered business accelerator powered by the Cynthia E. & Clarence E. Nevels Foundation, awarded $40,000 in grants to small business founders and honored venture capitalist Melissa Bradley with its 2026 Community Impact Award at the inaugural GrowthTech Summit on October 21 at Wells Fargo headquarters in Las Colinas.

The summit welcomed more than 120 business owners, technology leaders, AI experts and investors, including Irving Mayor Albert C. Zapanta and City Council members David Pfaff and John Bloch. Hosted by KPIXAI, Wells Fargo and the UPS Foundation, the event featured nationally recognized experts in artificial intelligence, sales, technology and capital. Bradley delivered the keynote address.

PITCH IT! Awards $40,000 to Small Business Founders

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Five finalists from SPG's Cohort 12 competed in the annual PITCH IT! competition for funding to accelerate business growth. Miniature Harvest received the $20,000 grand prize, Rday Cake Creations earned $10,000 for second place, and Yofi Aesthetics received $5,000 for third place. Riochi Giles received the $5,000 AI Innovation Award. Funding was supported by Wells Fargo, the UPS Foundation and Integrality.

"Winning this grant is so much more than receiving funding. It is an investment in a dream I have been building for years," said Ronda Billings, Founder of Rday Cake Creations. "I am especially grateful that this program has reminded me that I don't have to figure everything out alone. The knowledge, guidance, encouragement, accountability, and connections I've gained through START.PIVOT.GROW. have been invaluable. Thank you [to Cynthia Nevels] for creating an environment where small business owners like me can learn, grow, share our stories, and have our visions taken seriously. Thank you for seeing the potential in entrepreneurs who are working hard every day to turn their dreams into something lasting."

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Melissa Bradley Receives Community Impact Award

Bradley was recognized for advancing entrepreneurship, expanding access to capital and creating opportunities for underserved founders. The annual award honors business leaders who leverage their influence, expertise and networks to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems through investment, mentorship and strategic partnerships.

GrowthTech Expands to Houston in 2027

Through its patent-pending KPIXAI platform and accelerator programs, SPG has helped deploy more than $1 million in capital to small businesses and reports a 97% business survival rate among alumni.

GrowthTech heads to Houston for an AI Bootcamp on April 7, 2027, focused on helping entrepreneurs apply artificial intelligence to business operations and growth. Early registration is available at https://startpivotgrow.org/growthtech-houston#tickets