05/13/2026
On May 7, 2026, AADAP’s Koi Pond Entrepreneurship & Small Business Incubator Program culminated in an inspiring and impactful Fast Pitch Competition, bringing together entrepreneurs, banking and community leaders, workforce development professionals, and supporters dedicated to uplifting small businesses and economic opportunity within our communities.
Over the course of the cohort, participants engaged in entrepreneurship training, business planning, financial literacy, branding, and business development workshops designed to strengthen and grow their business visions. The Fast Pitch Competition provided five finalists the opportunity to present their businesses before an esteemed panel of judges representing banking, economic development, and community investment sectors.
We are proud to congratulate our 2026 Koi Pond Fast Pitch winners:
🥇 1st Place — Amber Stanford (Ambeezy’s Organic)
🥈 2nd Place — Tahesia Hall (Hair Taxi Mobile Barbers)
🥉 3rd Place — Beatriz Magãna Soto (Cutie’s Kitchen)
🏅 4th Place — Lori Hang Hutter (Root to Rise)
🏅 5th Place — Eve Mathis (Botanic Amenities)
A heartfelt thank you to our distinguished judges for sharing their expertise, encouragement, and professional insight with our finalists and attendees:
• Eric Gutierrez, CRA Officer, Preferred Bank
• Elder Sanabria, Senior Manager, Economic Opportunity, City of Los Angeles
• Fredy Salguero, Vice President, External Affairs, Southern California, Comerica Bank
• Jair De La Herra, Senior Business Banker, Citibank US
• Jabbar Wesley, Senior Program Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
• Tatiana Roberts, Vice President Community Manager, JPMorganChase
• Wei-Ling Chin, FVP & Community Development Officer, IV, Openbank
We extend our deepest appreciation to Preferred Bank for sponsoring the Koi Pond Fast Pitch Competition, as well as to Jabbar Wesley and LISC LA for their generous $5,000 grant supporting our first-place winner, Amber Stanford of Ambeezy’s Organic.
This event reflected the power of collaboration, mentorship, and investment in community-driven entrepreneurship. We are grateful to all cohort participants, instructors, partners, judges, staff, and attendees who contributed to making Koi Pond such a meaningful success.
We look forward to the continued growth of the Koi Pond Entrepreneurship & Small Business Incubator Program and are excited for the upcoming 2026 cohorts ahead. Follow us to stay connected for future opportunities, announcements, and community impact stories.