Provided
T.D. Jakes at the 2024 Seed Capital Pitch Competition.
The 2025 Good Soil Forum, in partnership with Wells Fargo, announced its finalists for this year’s Seed Capital Pitch Competition presented.
One of those is Paden Sickles, an entrepreneur and founder of Arlington-based SickFit, a health and fitness company specializing in socks.
Sickles and six other finalists will make their pitches to investors on Saturday at the Good Soil Forum, which begins Thursday in the Dallas Arts District. They will present in front of a panel of judges and a national audience, seeking a piece of $500,000 in funding to advance their ventures.
First place will earn $200,000, plus mentorship from Wells Fargo. Runner-up will win $100,000, and third $75,000. Each of those will also receive guidance from Wells Fargo.
“We aspire to inspire business owners while investing in their futures,” said T.D. Jakes, founder of the Good Soil Forum. “This competition transcends financial support. It empowers underestimated entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and trust essential for their success.”
The other finalists include:
- Kia-Shun Voltz, Shampoo Time of Red Oak
- M-T Strickland, Metric Mate of Atlanta
- Lamanda Ballard, FloEver Health, Austin
- Orleatha Smith, Sip Herbals, Gresham, Oregon
- Joseph Hamilton, 4 Second Football, Fairburn, Georgia
- Rozalynn Goodwin, Confidence by GaBBy Goodwin, Columbia, South Carolina
Guest speakers include Oprah Winfrey. Buy your tickets here.