08.25.17
Pitch Competition to Support Female Entrepreneurs
Tania Vanderlaan, Interim WEOC Director at The NIIC
Are you a she-preneur? If yes, you are a growing part of the entrepreneurial community. There’s no better time to put yourself out there than now, by entering the Launch Women Pitch Competition.
What’s this all about? Women who have recently started or hope to start a business will have the opportunity to get input on their business plans and potentially be selected to pitch their business at a public event where more than $15,000 ($5000 each category) will be awarded to the top three applicants.
Access to capital is a barrier to entry for many female founders. We see this quite often at Women’s Economic Opportunity Center (WEOC). The cash prize can help open up doors otherwise not possible.
You’re probably wondering how the competition works. Applicants can enter one of three categories: service business, innovative business or student venture. Applications will be accepted through September 11, with finalists being announced September 15.
Applicants who are selected as finalists will be invited to pitch their company before a panel of esteemed judges during an event on September 23 at The NIIC. The top pitch in each category will receive a $5,000 investment, along with other in-kind benefits to support their ventures. Additionally, all finalists will be invited to participate in a 6-week diverse entrepreneur accelerator program hosted by WEOC later this fall.
Another intangible yet potentially significant benefit is publicity. The pitch event will be open to the public, and attendees will have the opportunity to network with members of the local startup community.
Professional growth is also part of the equation. Professional business coaching and workshops are available to applicants to help navigate key issues of starting a business, such as how to pitch their ventures to investors or how to build strong company cultures as their businesses grow.
For more information or to register for the WEOC Launch Women Pitch Competition visit LaunchWomen.com.
