This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Akeem Shannon, a true embodiment of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. Born to artistic and enterprising parents in St. Louis, Akeem earned a full tuition scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at Howard University. Despite facing personal challenges that led to academic probation, Akeem remained steadfast in his commitment to innovation and community prosperity. Motivated by a conversation with his uncle, a NASA engineer, Akeem created Flipstik, a gravity-defying phone accessory. Despite setbacks, including being preempted on his national ABC TV “Shark Tank '' appearance, Akeem's perseverance paid off, landing him deals with rap moguls Diddy and Snoop Dogg. As a result, Flipstik flourished, gaining nationwide distribution. Additionally, Akeem has committed himself to #mentoring and empowering underrepresented minorities and women in entrepreneurship. His story was showcased at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s “Cellphone: Unseen Connections” exhibition, and highlighted by Inc. Magazine, serving as a testament to the power of perseverance and the pitch in achieving the American Dream.

Key pitching takeaways from Akeem Shannon on this episode of “Pitch Live”:

• Dare to defy convention: Break the rules and seize opportunities!
• Make your voice heard: Spit fire and get loud!
• Embrace flexibility: Keep an open mind when presenting your ideas.
• Captivate with narrative: Lead with your story, not just the product.
• Prepare to pitch: Outline themes rather than sticking to a rigid script.
• Persistence pays off: Don't give up, keep pushing forward!

Join Amy Summers for #PitchLive with #PitchPro Akeem Shannon to access Akeem’s pitching strategies and success stories that prove the power of #ThePitch ☎️🤩

Connect:

Follow and connect with Amy Summers:

Instagram | TikTok | Facebook: @amysummersnyc

X: @PitchAmy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysummersnyc

Follow and connect with Akeem Shannon:

Instagram | TikTok: @akeemshannon

X: @akeemthedream80

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akeemshannon

Website: https://www.akeemshannon.com and https://www.getflipstik.com

Shark Tank Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJO3kI8D974

Mentorship Group Text: 314-789-9005

Follow and connect with Pitch Publicity #PitchStars

Instagram and LinkedIn @pitchpublicity

Follow and connect with #INICIVOX for #VirtualMentorship

Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn: @INICIVOX

Website: www.INICIVOX.com

Be sure to hit that subscribe button and give us a rating or review. Your feedback helps us plan future episodes. As a bonus, join us at www.INICIVOX.com where you can get motivated, hone your communication skills and binge as much mentorship as you want, whenever you need it.