MD chocolate maker going for $1M prize in pitch competition

Listen to this article

A southern Maryland chocolate maker could win a $1 million prize after being named a finalist for the sixth annual Grow-NY Summit, the nation’s largest international food and agricultural business competition.

Thereasa Black, CEO and founder of Leonardtown-based Bon AppéSweet, will compete Nov. 6 and 7 in Ithaca, New York as one of 20 startups worldwide vying for $3 million in total prize money, including the $1 million grand prize. This year’s theme, “Grow and Lead Change,” highlights the role of entrepreneurs in driving sustainability and solving global challenges.

Bon AppéSweet, launched in July 2019, using simple, ethically sourced ingredients to make date-sweetened chocolate products. Free of sugar and artificial sweeteners, the company’s chocolate bars, trail mix, chocolate-covered almonds, raisins and espresso beans are all organic, vegan and non-GMO.

The company won The Empower Project competition in 2021, which came with a $700,000 investment from a consortium of nine companies which formed to amplify the voices of black entrepreneurs.

In total, 312 startups applied from 50 countries for the Grow-NY Summit, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy, along with 26 U.S. states. Close to 44% of applicants included a female founder and 60% included a founder from a culturally diverse group.

A panel of 30 judges, reflecting a depth and breadth of regional economic development expertise, knowledge of the region’s agriculture and food production communities, and entrepreneurial experience, reviewed all the applications to determine the top 20 finalists that will pitch their business plans at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit in Ithaca in November. Grow-NY will award a total of $3 million in prize money to seven winners.