Mountain Dew is committed to creating tangible change inside communities across America. In June, parent company PepsiCo unveiled a five-year initiative to elevate and strengthen Black businesses, including a $400 million financial pledge.

Now, Mountain Dew is launching an initiative of their own, the Real Change Opportunity Fund, as a means to provide Black entrepreneurs with vital financial support. Backed by a $1 million pledge, the fund was created to empower students who “go out and do” by providing financial support to those trying to transform business dreams into reality.

Open to current students and recent graduates from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), those interested in the fund are encouraged to apply to the upcoming “The Real Change Opportunity Fund Pitch Competition” in March, where aspiring entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to formally pitch their ideas in front of the Real Change panel.

From that competition, 10 finalists will earn a portion of the $1 million prize pool, in addition to resources, programming and, of course, funding — all dedicated to elevating and empowering a new generation of Black entrepreneurs. Each school represented will also receive additional funding in an effort to create change on campus.

For Mountain Dew, this competition is part of a larger goal to “provide resources, programs and funding for Black entrepreneurs.”

Want to submit your idea or know someone who should? Fill out an application and see official rules here.

PepsiCo

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