Join us today for a one hour power talk with our 2021 Pitch Platform Winners. We'll hear how they used their pitch winnings to take their businesses to next level!
This event will be streamed live, so you can join the conversation, and get connected to our upcoming 2023 Pitch Platform.
Kelli Mumphrey
Kelli Mumphrey is a proud United States Navy veteran who recognizes her life as a gift meant to be of service to others. In just two months after transitioning from active duty in 2014, Kelli and her husband received a few unexpected fast pitched curve balls. Kelli and her husband found themselves homeless with a one-year-old daughter sleeping on relatives’ couches and spare rooms, while expecting their second child. Grinding day in and day out, Kelli worked a 9 to 5 as a government employee, while serving as a Navy SELRES drilling reservist at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth all while trying to be a present wife and a breastfeeding mother.
Always on the go, Kelli found herself in situations where she would resort to pumping and dumping her breastmilk in public restrooms, and in other places she felt were unsanitary, uncomfortable, and inadequate. Frustrated by the lack of access to convenient and sanitary public spaces to express breastmilk while away from her home, in 2018, Kelli created MilkSpace, LLC a business that provided outdoor public space operators and event organizers with a pop-up canopy lactation space to address the gap in outdoor breastfeeding amenity solutions.
In 2019, Kelli experienced two miscarriages. Turning her tragedy into triumph, Kelli took a leap of faith by making a life-changing decision to create her own narrative and entered the world of entrepreneurship full-time! Kelli left the security her government career and created another business, Realize Every Aspiration Can Happen (R.E.A.C.H.) Grant Consulting, LLC using her professional government skill sets to assist non-profits to apply for grants. Despite Covid-19, Kelli was able to continue to operate MilkSpace, LLC but as an e-commerce business with a social impact initiative to serve low-income Black women in their breastfeeding journey with business technical assistance from the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center and the Dallas B.U.I.L.D. grant.
Kelli’s 2021 participation in the Dallas, Texas Impact Ventures’ Local Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (LEAP) and BIG win with the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center’s 4BusinessRecovery Pitch competition enabled Kelli to refocus on the original purpose of MilkSpace, LLC, as a mobile lactation service on wheels! Kelli is now hard at work developing her Mobile MilkSpace fleet to be the #1 DFW business in demand to deliver premium mobile breastfeeding solutions for outdoor public space operators and event organizers. Kelli is a proud H.B.C.U. graduate of Virginia State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication (Public Relations). She has also earned two master’s degrees in Management and Entrepreneurship from American Military University.
Debra Moore
Over 30 years ago, a graduate of Bennett College and a newly commissioned 2 nd Lieutenant in the United States Army, I traveled into Texas to report to my duty station at Ft. Hood in Killeen, TX. I was in awe and fell in love with the open vistas and plains that seemed to stretch for miles. Little did I know then that Texas would become my home to present day. Over the last three decades, with the gracious support from my devoted husband, I have raised a wonderful family, immersed myself in numerous volunteer activities, served as a substitute teacher in our local school district, and, for the last 9 years, built a thriving Gourmet Popcorn business located in Grand Prairie. I believe my city and state would be proud of my contributions and accomplishments as they reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Lone Star State!
At Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn, we are committed to adding special meaning to all of life’s joyous moments through popcorn! In our Grand Prairie, Texas based retail store, we produce over 40 gourmet inspired flavors of popcorn in three categories – savory, sweet, and premium. From delicious cheddar to classic caramel to rich lemon pound cake, you will be sure to find a flavor that excites the taste buds and satisfies every craving. Our team delivers on our commitment to insuring an outstanding customer experience by living out our values of Integrity, Kindness, Teamwork, and Excellence every day. Whether a gift, a fundraiser for your organization, corporate event, or just a tasty snack to brighten your day, at Mama Moore’s, you will always get ‘Moore’ and nothing less!
