July 17th 2023.
Mikáel Pyles and his business partners at Quikliq work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week on their unique mobile app that allows customers to purchase wine, beer and liquor from Black-owned brands and independently operated stores. And their hard work is paying off -- they recently won first place and a $15,000 business grant at the BLACK ENTERPRISE 2023 Disruptor Summit pitch competition, sponsored by Hyatt.
Pyles expressed his gratitude that Hyatt was sponsoring the competition, saying, “It promotes entrepreneurship, it fosters creativity, and it fosters hope. When companies like Hyatt sponsor pitch competitions and give money to these initiatives, it puts the opportunity for Black ownership, entrepreneurship, and innovation on such a higher platform.”
The pitch competition was open to nearly 50 video entries, with three finalists chosen by BLACK ENTERPRISE staff. The three finalists then pitched live at the BE Disruptor Summit in Atlanta on June 3, hosted by Nationwide at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead.
Quikliq president and co-founder Mikáel Pyles and CEO Navarr Grevious ultimately emerged as the winners of the competition. Tyronne Stoudemire, senior vice president of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Hyatt Corporation, said, “Black entrepreneurship is not only something we are passionate about at Hyatt – it’s something we are committed to supporting as part of Change Starts Here. We are thrilled to be a part of BLACK ENTERPRISE ’s pitch competition which is very much aligned with our vision for a more just and equitable Hyatt community.”
The other two finalists, Dr. Erica Gamble and Michael Fulton II, were commended for their impressive pitches, with Dr. Gamble receiving a $10,000 business grant and Fulton receiving a $5,000 business grant. BLACK ENTERPRISE Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Alfred Edmond Jr. also provided mentoring sessions to each of the finalists. He commented that “it’s not just about the money; it’s about the relationships”, and advised entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses as often as possible.
Pyles, Aaron Carter, and Navarr Grevious are the co-founders of Quikliq. They met while students at HBCU Clark Atlanta University and saw a need for safe alcohol delivery services for social events. Quikliq is now active in two states, with 7,000 downloads and counting. The team will use their business grant from Hyatt to “further fuel innovation in their technology” to make the platform more user-friendly and expand operations.
Pyles said, “BLACK ENTERPRISE is lauded as the authority for Black excellence, entrepreneurship, and forward movement. To have the opportunity to pitch our business to such a huge platform is a watershed moment and life-changing experience.”
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