We’re kicking the year off with a huge win! REVOLT and Target have teamed up to bring funding and mentorship opportunities to Black entrepreneurs. Together they created ‘Bet on Black’ – the first ever Black-owned business pitch competition series on TV. Podpal Founder and CEO, Aaron P. Woods was selected as 1 of 12 entrepreneurs, from thousands of applicants around the U.S., to compete for up to $200,000 in non-dilutive funding from Target.

The ‘Bet on Black’ series premiered on REVOLT and highlights 12 Black-owned startups with innovative ideas to revolutionize a range of industries, from technology and entertainment to style, beauty and beyond. In each episode, investors and industry leaders hear from three black entrepreneurs across a range of industries. Judges evaluate each business based on traction, community impact, and their potential to propel black culture.

Aaron delivered the Podpal pitch to four judges, including Target’s Senior Divisional of Merchandising in Apparel & AccessoriesMelanie Gatewood-Hall, Grammy award-winning artist T-Pain, costume designer Zerina Akers, and radio personality and producer DJ Envy. Pernell Cezar, founder of BLK & Bold and strategic advisor to Target Forward Founders, serves as a coach for each startup.

“Pitching LIVE on TV was an exhilarating experience. I was so full of excitement that I sprinted onto the stage to deliver my pitch! I think that got the judges excited to hear what I had to say, as well as the viewing audience,” Aaron shares.

So how did it go for Podpal? Featured on Episode 4 of the show, Aaron entered the television competition very confident that he could stand out as a tech company serving the logistical needs of podcasters. When sharing the story of creating Podpal after seeing his wife struggle during her podcast journey, the judges resonated and were intrigued by his progress so far. Competing against Black Girls Greenhouse and Smooth & Groove, his high-energy pitch impressed the judges, earning Podpal second place in his category and a $10,000 cash prize.

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Aaron’s pitch highlighted everything Podpal has to offer podcasters when it comes to planning, publishing, and promoting their show. Although Podpal did not win the grand prize, he may have found a new supporter in celebrity judge T-Pain.

“It was crazy to see our episode reach over 1.4 million views on YouTube within a few days of it airing, and T-Pain even posted about Podpal on his social media channel! That was another boost of confidence that we’re on to something at Podpal. We are in talks with him regarding his interest in the platform both as a user and investor,” Aaron reveals.

Anytime you can get in front of your customer on a big stage like ‘Bet on Black’, you have to make sure you deliver. That’s exactly what Aaron did. As a result, hundreds of podcasters signed up and showed interest in starting, growing, and scaling their podcast with Podpal. This is why Podpal was created and what we want to showcase when telling the world about our business. That with the right tools and product, you can push your podcast out into the world without the hassle.