Two Black entrepreneurs from B.C. have been chosen as finalists for the Black Pitch Contest — a Canadian contest aimed at helping Black founders get access to funding — according to the Vancouver Sun.

Deress Asghedom of Vancouver and Mwenda Dyck of the Fraser Valley made the Top 5 and will be competing for a $25,000 prize in the Black Pitch Contest.

Originally from Ethiopia, Asghedom developed an app called Vaster. It teaches cannabis consumers how to make informed decisions about the various products available.

Meanwhile, Dyck, a 22-year-old Kenyan Canadian, started South Central Greens, a company that specializes in vertical farming, using horticultural techniques to grow food in areas where conventional farming practices are impractical.

The judges include Eric Pilgrim (Black Entrepreneurs & Businesses of Canada Society), Crystal Lo (InBC Investment Corp.), Gelila Mast (TD Bank), Pamela Rosiclair (Futurpreneur Canada), Peter Mwariga (Turning Point Youth Services), and Melanie Ewan (Volition).

The Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada Society's CEO and co-founder, Jackee Kasandy, said that she founded the competition to assist Black businesses that still experience obstacles including poverty, a lack of a home or other form of collateral, or a low credit score.

After moving from Kenya to Canada, Kasandy started a retail business on Granville Island in B.C. that bears her last name. She struggled to get loans, lacking credit history and capital. Furthermore, she was forced to max out her credit cards and sublet her apartment through Airbnb to fund the business. Today, her business generates more than $500,000 in annual revenue, according to ByBlacks.

The Black Pitch Contest finalists will be showcased at the virtual Black Business Summit on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25.