Hawks, Paze and RICE Help Atlanta Entrepreneurs Shoot Their Shot

In a city built on hustle, innovation and culture, the Atlanta Hawks and Paze spent yesterday pouring into the next generation of entrepreneurs.

In celebration of Small Business Month, the Hawks, alongside official jersey patch partner Paze, teamed up with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) to host “Shoot Your Shot,” a pitch competition designed to spotlight Atlanta’s rising business leaders and creators.

And Atlanta showed up.

The competition featured entrepreneurs and innovators across retail, technology, media, professional services and eCommerce, all competing for funding, exposure and an opportunity to take their businesses to the next level.

When it was all said and done, Charmaine Gibbs-West, Founder and CEO of EssenceTree, walked away as the grand prize winner, earning $5,000 for her Atlanta-based holistic beauty brand focused on handcrafted organic skincare and hair products.

Second place went to April Smith, Founder and Creator of OneDay Co., who earned $3,000, while Matthew C. James, Founder of Immuniscan, secured third place and a $1,000 prize.

“I am extremely grateful to the Hawks and Paze for putting on this incredible event for entrepreneurs,” said Gibbs-West.

Nearly 50 entrepreneurs initially submitted pitch decks and capability statements hoping for a shot to compete. After a highly competitive selection process, only 10 finalists advanced to present live at RICE.

And the pressure was real.

Each entrepreneur delivered a rapid-fire three-minute elevator pitch followed by a tough two-minute Q&A session with a panel of judges that tested not only the strength of the business idea, but the confidence and preparation behind it.

The judging panel included Quintin Bostic of RICE, investor and entrepreneur Ensa Gunter, William Leonard of Valor Ventures, Craig Ross of Paze, and Melissa Silberman from the Hawks and State Farm Arena.

But beyond the competition itself, the event felt bigger than prizes.

It felt like investment.

The day opened with networking opportunities that brought entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators together under one roof—something Atlanta has become known for in its growing business ecosystem.

“At RICE, we remain steadfast and focused on readiness and access to opportunity and exposure,” said Quintin Bostic, Vice President of Partnerships at RICE. “This collaboration is a vital cornerstone of our efforts to build tomorrow together.”

That message echoed throughout the room.

The Hawks have continued expanding their footprint beyond basketball, leaning heavily into community impact initiatives that create real opportunities throughout Atlanta. Partnering with Paze and RICE only strengthened that mission.

“We were incredibly honored to team up with Paze and RICE to provide a platform where visionary entrepreneurs can truly shine,” said Alexis Roe, Vice President of Community Impact at the Hawks and State Farm Arena.

Since launching their partnership in 2025, the Hawks and Paze have focused on bridging the gap between innovation and opportunity while helping local businesses gain visibility and resources to grow.

And yesterday, inside RICE, that vision came to life.

Because in Atlanta, sometimes all people need is an opportunity to shoot their shot.