Two local women were recently crowned winners of Lendistry’s 2025 Small Biz Shot Clock Contest.
Carol Podolak, owner of Portage-based BNutty, and Nicole Bijou, owner of Chicago-based Nicki Rouge Bridal Team, were top winners. Each received $5,000.
Lendistry is the official small business lender of the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks. The contest took place July 18, during the WNBA All Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
In June, Lendistry opened nominations for women-owned businesses in Indiana and surrounding states. Of the 100 nominations submitted, five finalists were selected to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges as time counted down on the shot clock. The panel was made up of Lendistry founder and CEO Everett Sands, sports journalist Karli Bell and entrepreneur Jennifer Alvear.
BNutty makes and sells gourmet peanut butter jar and offers a fundraising program for youth athletes and organizations. Nicki Rouge Bridal Team is building an inclusive luxury bridal beauty brand that centers on women of color—offering beauty and belonging in an industry that often overlooks them.
“BNutty and Nicki Rouge Bridal Team stood out to us because they have the most potential to scale up in the near future,” Sands said in a press release. “Carol Podolak and her team have created a national business and are changing the game in youth sports fundraising, and Nicole Bijou’s all-inclusive model and network of contractors are built for the future.”
The three runners-up and recipients of $2,000 each were Tina Wong, owner of Chicago-based Grace + Ivory; Victoria Thomas, owner of Indianapolis-based The Pink Tub; and Lyndy Bazile, owner of Fort Wayne-based Studio Vwazen.
“Winning the Shot Clock Contest is a deeply personal and powerful win—not just for me, but for every woman of color who has ever felt unseen in the beauty space,” Bijou said. “This moment proves that our voices matter and that there is room for our excellence in luxury bridal. With Lendistry’s support, we’re not just dreaming—we’re building a future where brides of color never have to question if they’ll be celebrated, understood or made to feel beautiful.”
Podolak called winning the pitch competition a game-changer for BNutty.
“The $5,000 prize allows us to take the next step in building our digital fundraising app—helping even more young athletes and charitable organizations raise money for the things they love, in a fun and meaningful way,” Podolak said. “We’re so grateful for the support and excited to keep growing our impact—one jar at a time.”
