Queen Latifah is focusing her energy on helping out small businesses. The rapper/singer/actress has partnered with Lenovo’s Evolve Small initiative to lend her NIL (name, image, likeness) on customized marketing materials to help leverage her star power to bolster the businesses, reports Essence.

“Frankly, what made me decide to say ‘yes’ was that Lenovo was creating a campaign driven towards small businesses,” she told Essence. “As someone who opened up her own small business with my partner, Shy, I wish there was this kind of campaign around when I was 19 opening up ‘Flavor Unit’ because it was pretty much coming out of my pocket,” she shared, pointing out that marketing costs for the then start-up were especially expensive. “The technology involved in {backing these businesses}, I thought was extremely fascinating that you could win this thing, possibly, and literally have me as the face of your company and I don’t have to even go anywhere, but you got me.”

Small business owners are asked to submit a 30-second to two-minute “Shark Tank” style video pitch detailing why their business should be selected for the prize to participate in the program with selected as winners receiving $30,000, $10,000 in Lenovo technology upgrades, and a mentorship session with Queen Latifah.

“I’m not cheap,” the star joked, laughing. “What a hookup.”

Submissions will be accepted from October 13th – November 15th at www.Lenovo.com/EvolveSmall.