West Des Moines Chamber Announces Pitch Finalists for Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (March 16, 2026) – The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has announced seven finalists for the 2026 Pitch Competition at the sixth annual Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit. The Pitch Competition is supported by Bank of America, and the Summit is presented by Chase. 
 
“Bank of America congratulates the finalists of the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit Pitch Competition,” Annie Brandt, senior vice president and market executive for Bank of America, Iowa. “We are proud to support this initiative and remain committed to fostering economic opportunity for all. Through our partnership with the WDM Chamber, we look forward to driving change in Iowa and beyond.”
 
“For the past six years, inspiring entrepreneurs from across the world have participated in the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit Pitch Competition,” said Kristi Kaye Burma, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Athene. “We are excited to see this year’s pitches.” 
 
These finalists were selected by our Pitch Competition Committee after reviewing more than 130 applications. Each finalist will deliver a five-minute pitch to the judges. Additionally, one more competitor will be randomly selected from the applicant pool on the day of the event. 
 
Since 2021, over $200,000 has been awarded to business owners. This year’s finalists include: 

• Bah Kunda Kitchen – Urbandale, Iowa

• Dtocs – Portland, Oregon

• Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams – Houston, Texas

• Innovation Station Kits – Lithia, Florida

• Lewis Lawn & Labor, Inc. – Des Moines, Iowa

• ShampooTime – Red Oak, Texas

• Vaila Shoes – Charlotte, North Carolina

 
The prize amount will be divided among eight winners, and the judges will determine how the prize is distributed. 
 
“The Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit Pitch Competition showcases the talent, innovation, and hard work of all entrepreneurs,” said Katherine Harrington, president and CEO of the WDM Chamber. “We’re excited to see these finalists share their ideas and take their businesses to the next level.” 
 
The Pitch Competition will take place on April 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel. To learn more and register, please visit bbbsummit.com. 
 

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About the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit 
The Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit was created by national stakeholders to assist with connection building, programming, promotion, training and provide resources to help businesses grow and prosper. The Summit is owned and operated by the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and is supported by several key stakeholders, including Athene, Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo and more. The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce created The Summit back in 2021, and Athene became the naming rights sponsor in 2022. 
 
About the WDM Chamber of Commerce 
Recognized by ACCE (Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives) as one of the top Chambers in the nation, the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, established in 1924, is the largest, most active chamber in the Greater Des Moines region. With a focus on strengthening local businesses, boosting economic development, and attracting a top-tier workforce, the Chamber aims to position WDM as the best suburban city in America. Celebrating over a century of excellence, the Chamber boasts a diverse community of over 1000 members, offering something for everyone. Explore the possibilities, learn more about the chamber, and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of West Des Moines and our entire region at wdmchamber.org. 
 
About Athene 
Athene is the leading retirement solutions company with over $440 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2025, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.
 
About Bank of America 
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC). For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.