08.25.17
Ladies, Get Your Business On with WEOC Launch Women Pitch Competition.
Tammy Y. Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
The Women’s Economic Opportunity Center (WEOC) hosted by the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) announced today the Launch Women Pitch Competition, to support women entrepreneurs throughout the WEOC service area. 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 will be awarded to the top three applicants.
WEOC was founded about two years ago to support women entrepreneurs at all stages of the entrepreneurial journeys. Time and time again we have heard that access to financial capital is a hurdle for female founders who are just starting their ventures. With the Launch Women Pitch Competition, we will award $5,000 each to three women to help them get started and also connect them to additional key resources.
The pitch competition includes three categories: service business, innovative business or student venture. Applications will be accepted through September 14, with finalists being announced September 15. Applicants who are selected as finalists will be invited to pitch their venture before a panel of esteemed judges during an event on September 23 at The NIIC.
The top pitch in each category — service or innovation business — will each receive a $5,000 investment from WEOC along with other in-kind benefits to support their ventures. The top pitch in the student business category will receive a NIIC Student Venture Lab investment of $5,000 with an opportunity to earn an additional $1,500 upon completion of phase two of the program.
Additionally, all finalists will be invited to participate in a 6-week diverse entrepreneur accelerator program hosted by WEOC later this fall.
The pitch event will be open to the public, and attendees will have the opportunity to network with members of the local startup community.
For more information, visit LaunchWomen.com.
