Lendistry Small Biz Shot Clock Contest Awards $16,000 to Woman-Owned Businesses at WNBA All-Star Event
BNutty and Nicki Rouge Bridal Team prove to the judges that small, local enterprises can be leaders in community impact and innovation
Photo credit: Tasha Peterson, Phoenix Media Photography
The top winners and recipients of $5,000 each were Carol Podolak, owner of BNutty in Portage, Indiana, and Nicole Bijou, owner of Nicki Rouge Bridal Team in Chicago, Illinois.
In June, Lendistry opened nominations for women-owned businesses located in Indiana and surrounding states. Of the 100 nominations that came in, five finalists were selected to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges as time counted down on the shot clock. The panel was made up of Lendistry founder and CEO Everett K. Sands, sports journalist Karli Bell, and entrepreneur Jennifer Alvear.
“All five finalists were so inspiring,” says Sands. “BNutty and Nicki Rouge Bridal Team stood out to us because they have the most potential to scale up in the near future. Carol Podolak and her team have created a national business and are changing the game in youth sports fundraising, and Nicole Bijou’s all-inclusive model and network of contractors are built for the future. My fellow judges and I were so impressed with all five women.”
“Winning the Shot Clock Contest is a deeply personal and powerful win—not just for me, but for every woman of color who has ever felt unseen in the beauty space,” says Bijou. “It’s also a win for the incredible artists on my team who show up every day to change that narrative. This moment proves that our voices matter and that there is room for our excellence in luxury bridal. With Lendistry’s support, we’re not just dreaming—we’re building a future where brides of color never have to question if they’ll be celebrated, understood, or made to feel beautiful. We are creating legacy, opportunity, and lasting change for our clients, our team, and the industry as a whole.
“Winning this pitch competition is a game-changer for BNutty,” says Podolak. “The $5,000 prize allows us to take the next step in building our digital fundraising app—helping even more young athletes and charitable organizations raise money for the things they love, in a fun and meaningful way. We’re so grateful for the support and excited to keep growing our impact—one jar at a time!”
The three runners-up and recipients of $2,000 each were Tina Wong, owner of Grace + Ivory in Chicago, IL; Victoria Thomas, owner of The Pink Tub LLC in Indianapolis, IN; and Lyndy Bazile, owner of Studio Vwazen in Fort Wayne, IN.
According to a recent report from the GEM Consortium detailed in Forbes, one in three high-growth-oriented entrepreneurs are women. Through its relationship with the Los Angeles Sparks, Lendistry is committed to making sure women who go into business for themselves have access to the capital they need to take their shot and make it count.
About Lendistry
Lendistry (lendistry.com) is a tech-enabled small businesses lender, grant administrator for private and public agencies, and a trusted resource for undercapitalized entrepreneurs including people of color, veterans, and those in rural communities. Founded in 2015, Lendistry has used technology and community partnerships to deploy over $10 billion in its first ten years. Lendistry was recently named the winner of the LA Area Chamber of Commerce Corporate Leadership Award, BankRate’s Best Minority-Led Business Lender, and one of American Banker’s Best Places to Work in Fintech. Lendistry has both Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) certifications, is an SBA Preferred Lender and is now the #2 non-bank SBA 7(a) lender in the country. In collaboration with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit business education organization, Lendistry helps business owners achieve their goals and prepare to scale.