Michigan Good Food Fund Pitch Event Winners

And the winners are… 

We’re excited to announce that Wani Cakes took first place at the 2025 Michigan Good Food Fund Business Pitch Event! Our judges were impressed by co-owner Bola Okpue’s commitment to creating delicious products that prioritize wellbeing. Bola plans to use the $5,000 cash prize to purchase new equipment to scale the wholesale business and bring Wani Cakes to more retailers across Michigan and beyond. 

But Wani Cakes wasn’t the only winner at this exciting event. We awarded $3,000 to second-place winner Cynthia Hines, Owner of PawPaw’s Pickles, and $2,000 to third-place winner Maritant Peña, Operations Manager of I Love Pig. 

Congratulations to this year’s winners — and thank you to our judges and partners who made this event possible!   

Meet the Winners: 

Bola Okpue of Wani Cakes in Detroit 

Inspired by their African heritage and a love for baking, co-founders Anwelli and Bola Okpue created the on-the-go Omich Cake Cup, a delicious, protein-packed snack with less sugar than a cup of flavored yogurt. During the event, Bola shared Wani’s journey from selling at farmers markets to offering their healthy desserts at 8 retail stores across Michigan. Wani Cakes hopes to expand to 25 stores in the next year! Read more from Bola. 

Cynthia Hines of PawPaw’s Pickles in Flint 

Operating from the Flint Farmers’ Market’s incubator kitchen, Cynthia and her husband Toney use his grandmother’s Arkansas recipes to create a range of pickle flavors and cha cha relishes. Cynthia shared their goals of increasing local sourcing from small farms during Michigan’s growing season, working with worm composting businesses to minimize waste, and expanding their cha cha sales to Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Detroit, and beyond. Read more from Cynthia. 

Maritant Peña and Aliz Mendoza of I Love Pig in Flint  

From sizzling Venezuelan arepas to savory Cuban sandwiches, every dish from I Love Pig is crafted with love and tradition. Maritant shared their plans to bottle and sell the restaurant’s popular Mom’s Sauce. I Love Pig plans to implement new craft paper packaging that would reduce waste and save on resources for the growing business. Read more from Maritant and Aliz. 

Meet the Judges: 

In addition to participating in the live event, our judges reviewed over 30 applications to select this year’s finalists. We’re grateful to our stellar lineup of judges for lending their time and expertise to make this event a success.  

Terri Barker, Economic & Community Development Analyst with Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development 
Terri works with food processors in all sectors and supports communities by developing business resources that focus on equitable food access. 

Theresa Dubiel, Chief Experience Officer at Lake Trust Credit Union   
As a part of the Lake Trust team for 18 years, Theresa has enjoyed the opportunity to lead teams in Member Engagement and Marketing, build members’ Financial Wellbeing, support the growth of small businesses, and make a positive impact in communities. 

Jorge Gonzalez, Co-Director at Start Garden   
A Grand Rapids native, Jorge has more than 15 years of experience in the banking industry. He served as the Executive Director of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce before joining the Start Garden team in 2017. 

John P. Kepplinger, Global Food Innovation, Technology Development, and R&D Executive  
John has proven expertise in the management of global research and development programs, delivering growth and profitability in the food industry, primarily across ready-to-eat cereal and snack products. He most recently served as Kellogg Company’s Vice President, Global Snacks R&D.  

Adrian Montague, Founder and Executive Director of Doxa Development  
Adrian has extensive experience in nonprofit management and grassroots development. Through their work at Doxa Development, Adrian helps empower entrepreneurs in Genesee, Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties, and soon Ingham County, as well.  

About the Event 

Kicking off the MSU Product Center’s Making It In Michigan tradeshow and conference, the 2025 Michigan Good Food Fund Business Pitch Event gave three food product makers the stage to tell our esteemed panel of judges about themselves, their businesses, and why they should take home the big prize. 

This year, each finalist walked away with a cash prize provided by Michigan Good Food Fund lending partners Lake Trust Credit Union and Fair Food Network. 

Practice Your Business Pitch 

Feeling inspired to make your pitch? Check out our latest blog for tips on crafting an effective business pitch. Whether you’re speaking at an event, seeking investors, meeting with retailers, or engaging potential customers, a strong pitch can open minds and open doors. 

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