Dallas-based social impact company T.D. Jakes Enterprises is bringing the Good Soil Forum to the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, hoping to make North Texas home to a confluence of ideas, events, and a business-related social hot spot ahead of Juneteenth and Black Music Month.
The event will be held June 13-15 and will culminate with a pitch competition offering $500,000 in total grants.
T.D. Jakes Enterprise is led by Chairman T.D. Jakes, the driving force behind the Good Soil Movement.
“Our mission within the Good Soil movement is to increase generational wealth and empowerment by nurturing the entrepreneurs that are often under-resourced,” Michael Phillips, chief operating officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, said in a statement. “The Good Soil Forum breaks the cycle of under-resourced entrepreneurs leaving events inspired but unequipped. Thriving despite limited resources, entrepreneurs inspire us. This June we’ll celebrate past and present leaders who built a path for future generations. It’s the first step in a multi-year plan to cultivate a thriving cultural hub for music, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Texas—a space where inspiration meets practical tools to empower business growth and lasting success.”
Good Soil Forum lineup
According to T.D. Jakes Enterprises, Jakes, a longtime entrepreneur and senior pastor of The Potter’s House church, is using the Good Soil Forum to highlight the nation’s, and particularly Dallas’, thriving entrepreneurial, business, and cultural scene. In turn, it says it’s bringing thousands of people and millions of dollars to the area.
The organization noted that Dallas consistently ranks near the top of annual economic studies, across the U.S. that cite North Texas as being good for small business growth, small business employment, and hourly earnings growth.
With the theme of “The Rhythm of Entrepreneurship,” this year’s forum features visionary leaders and industry trailblazers who’ll offer insights to attendees to help them navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence and creativity, the organization said.
This year’s featured participants, panelists in fireside chats, and breakout sessions include:
- T.D. Jakes, NAACP Image Award Winning philanthropist and CEO of T.D. Jakes Enterprises
- Tabitha Brown, Emmy Award Winning Actress and NYT Bestselling Author & Entrepreneur
- Pinky Cole, Founder & Owner of Slutty Vegan
- Arian Simone, Co-founder & CEO of the Fearless Fund
- Richelieu Dennis, Founder & CEO of Sundial Brands
- Charles King, Founder & CEO of MACRO
Good Soil Forum will feature educational fireside chats, breakout sessions, and hands-on workshops in which business leaders can learn and participate in key conversations on a variety of topics from business planning and marketing strategies to financial management and leadership development, equipping them with practical skills and knowledge to elevate their business.
The forum will also feature a marketplace with a diverse array of vendors, from tech startups to artisanal craftspeople, a unique opportunity to network, discover new products and services, and gain inspiration for attendees’ entrepreneurial ventures.
Empowering minority entrepreneurs
“Stand Together Foundation is proud to partner with T.D. Jakes Enterprises to help more people realize their American Dream through entrepreneurship,” Evan Feinberg, SVP of Stand Together and chairman of the Stand Together Foundation, said in a statement. “If successful, this effort will not only help many people realize their full potential but will demonstrate what’s possible in this country when we change our mindset away from what people lack and toward what they can accomplish.”
T.D. Jakes Enterprises and the Stand Together community said they’re also partnering on an ambitious national initiative to inspire new and growing entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities. It’s centered around a peer-to-peer platform of entrepreneurs and connecting those on the platform to the coaching, technical support, services, and networks they need to grow their companies.
Good Soil will feature the return of the annual Seed Capital Competition, in partnership with Wells Fargo, an opportunity designed to guide entrepreneurs through the crucial stages of business planning and pitching, T.D. Jakes Enterprises said.
$500K in grants doubles last year’s haul
To further empower minority entrepreneurs by enhancing their skills in crafting investable business plans and pitches, the competition features a grand total of $500,000 in grants—double the amount of last year’s $250,000 amount—ranking it as the third-highest seed competition of its kind in the United States, according to the organization.
T.D. Jakes Enterprises said that to participate, entrepreneurs must complete the intent-to-enter form in the Good Soil HQ app by May 1, and be part of Good Soil’s Grow community.
The final submission deadline is May 23, after which a panel of judges will select finalists to present their pitches live on June 14.
The competition will culminate in the awarding of seed grants to the top entrants, with the first-place winner receiving $200,000 and mentorship from a top business leader. Other awards include $100,000 for second place, $75,000 for third place, a $75,000 Host award for the best entry from Dallas, and a $50,000 award for the most improved participant, T.D. Jakes Enterprises said.
Judges will evaluate submissions based on the soundness of the plan, results to date, the articulation of how the prize money will be utilized for business growth, and the quality of presentation.
For more information on the 2024 Good Soil Forum, speakers, and registration go here.
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