MADE, a block-chain-powered verification system developed to protect Black creativity, was declared the winner of the inaugural “Keep It 100” Pitch Competition sponsored by Elite Media. 

The winner was announced at The One Club’s “Where Are All the Black People” Conference in New York City last Friday (October 17).  

A $50,000 grant was presented to Tommy Johnson, Founder and CEO of MADE, by Chris Crawford, Founder and CEO of Elite Media.  

The startup was selected from a group of five finalists, each of whom also received $12,500. In addition to MADE, the finalists included:  

Crawford stated that “The ‘Keep It 100’ pitch competition celebrates the power of attention, the power of purpose, the power of supporting one another. Today, the community won. Every contestant brought it. Their audacity and ambition was on full display.  We’re proud to help this inaugural group of creators, innovators and entrepreneurs bring their visionary ideas to life.”  

Elite Media, a black-owned, women-led independent agency based in Harlem, conceived the “Keep It 100” Pitch Competition to shake up the industry and reinforce its belief in a community-based business model.  Elite Media is challenging the industry to “outgood” one another and create change that will transform communities. 

Competition judges included: Carolyn “CC” Concepcion, multi-disciplinary creative entrepreneur & founder of courtesy of c: c/o c; Cassandra Illidge, vice president of global partnerships & executive director-HBCU Programs, Getty Images; Adrianne C. Smith, founder, Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC); Elite Founder Crawford; Jimmy Smith, Chairman & CEO, Amusement Park, and LaGloria Wheatfall, communications and engagement, Elite Media

Pictured above left to right: Concepcion, Illidge, Adrianne C. Smith, Crawford, Johnson, Jimmy Smith and Wheatfall.