Wichita esthetician wins $5K in pitch competition for diverse founders

After one year in business, a Wichita skincare specialist has been recognized in a local pitch competition.

Chandali Gullick of Skin Is In Studios won a Create Campaign competition Thursday evening geared toward minority entrepreneurs, taking home a $5,000 grand prize.

"Winning this grant means so much for my business," she said. "It is hard to secure capital as a young Black business owner."

Gullick, 33, went to Sami Halaseh Institute, an esthetics school in Andover, on a scholarship from Beauty Changes Lives, an organization that helps promote making beauty and wellness a first-choice career decision.

Part of the $5,000 prize that Gullick won from the Create Campaign competition, she said, will go toward educating youth about going into the beauty and wellness business.

"Only 6% of estheticians nationwide are Black," Gullick said. "I'm really thankful for being able to use this money towards expanding my business and a portion of these funds will actually go towards creating a youth program so that we can bring awareness to the esthetics industry and really start to make it a first career choice for young individuals who may not know about it because of the lack of diversity in the beauty industry."

Gullick, who offers facial skincare in a relaxed setting, complete with music and aromatherapy, just moved to larger offices at 5120 E. Central Ave. in east Wichita. She is hoping to add more clinicians and grow her business. She said she wants to show others starting out that hard work and perseverance is key.

Along with advanced skincare solutions, Gullick offers energy work, including Reiki and meditation, warm towels and shoulder massages. She calls her new space relaxing and "intergalactic."

"I specialize in skin of color, but I can help anyone who has ever struggled in their skin," she said.

Create Campaign, Inc., which helps entrepreneurs in the Midwest to grow, held a business pitch competition Thursday at Brick & Mortar in Wichita. More than 100 people attended, including five contestants competing for the grand prize.

The contestants participated in Create Campaign's Spark Community Business Academy, a 12-week business development program. Each contestant won the Spark Elevator Pitch Competition and/or the organization's Urban Business Expo. Spark is a nationally-recognized business development program, with the Wichita group starting in 2022. Nationally, participants have received around $100,000 in business capital.

Create Campaign launched in 2015. The nonprofit offers access to education and capital. The organization says it has approved more than $1.2 million in business funding to entrepreneurs who may not otherwise qualify for traditional bank financing.

Thursday's contestants were: 

"In addition to shining a spotlight on our Spark program and entrepreneurs, this event allows us to showcase key initiatives that will lead to even greater economic impact among business owners we have the privilege of serving," said Christina Long, founding president and CEO of Create Campaign Inc.