SCORE has introduced the winners of its sixtieth Anniversary Digital Pitch Competitors. Held from September 17-19, the digital occasion is a part of a sequence of 5 competitions happening nationwide to mark SCORE’s milestone anniversary. The competitors permits entrepreneurs to showcase their enterprise abilities to trade specialists, win funding, and acquire useful mentorship for free of charge. Greater than 2,200 small enterprise house owners utilized to take part.
The winners of the digital pitch competitors are:
First Place:
- Helen Ianniello – Stockmen’s Drug (Gordon, NE) Stockmen’s Drug, an unbiased pharmacy in rural Nebraska, has expanded considerably since its acquisition by Helen Ianniello, a registered nurse. Ianniello launched new programs, expanded the service space, and launched progressive companies like telepharmacy and a cell vaccine clinic. The pharmacy additionally serves long-term care amenities and collaborates with native hospitals. Ianniello received the highest prize of $20,000, which she plans to make use of to fund a cell vaccine clinic for underserved and homebound people.
Second Place:
- Christina VanDam – Zeal Aerial Health (Grand Rapids, MI) Zeal Aerial Health provides a wide range of aerial and various health courses, together with aerial silks, hoop, pole, hammock, and bungee, for each adults and kids. The studio additionally hosts non-public occasions reminiscent of birthday and bachelorette events. VanDam obtained $10,000 to increase her choices and buy further tools for Zeal’s new location.
Third Place:
- Vanessa Sanchez – bonnee | the clothes swap app (Miami Seashore, FL) Bonnee is a cell app that facilitates the swapping of clothes, classic gadgets, and equipment. Customers earn credit for posting gadgets and might simply swap them. Launched in January 2024, the app promotes sustainable trend practices by making clothes swaps accessible. Sanchez earned $5,000, which she plans to put money into social media advertising, influencer collaborations, and app growth.
SCORE CEO Bridget Weston congratulated the winners, stating, “These exceptional entrepreneurs exemplify the innovation, dedication, and perseverance wanted to show small enterprise desires into actuality. We’re honored to have supported them with mentorship and sources, persevering with the legacy of serving to greater than 17 million entrepreneurs over the previous six many years.”
Judging and Standards
Contestants had been matched with SCORE’s volunteer enterprise mentors to assist them put together and ship their pitches. The judging standards included presentation effectiveness, model id, product uniqueness, enterprise viability, scalability, sustainability, and monetary potential.
Shellie Peters, Head of Advantages and Charitable Giving at International Atlantic, congratulated the winners and emphasised the significance of nurturing entrepreneurial expertise. International Atlantic was the premier sponsor of the occasion.
Extra Finalists
The digital pitch competitors additionally acknowledged the next finalists:
- Monica Cody – Farmstead 1868 (Cazenovia, NY)
- Amanda and Collin Horan – Line + Cleat (Glen Ellyn, IL)
- Anwelli Okpue – Wani Desserts LLC (Dearborn, MI)
- Katie Roering – Fontana Candle Firm, LLC (Lancaster, PA)
- Amber Waldeier – Zipplicity Un-Baggage (Lancaster, PA)
- Victoria Freeman – Ironmatik LLC (Liberty, MO)
- Yemisi Anderson – The JAY Impact (Carbondale, IL)
- Malgorzata (Mal) Klesna-Blat – Depraved Fruitful, LLC (Upton, MA)
- Kimberly St Clair – MyDocDash (Saint Louis, MO)
- Tania Kottoor – WEST X EAST (Brooklyn, NY)
- Michael Heisman – Tansect (Appleton, WI)
- Zakayla Riley – Pawpin’ Pawz Luxurious Cell Grooming (Cincinnati, OH)
- Jannea Wolff – Reclaiming Our Wellness (Miramar, FL)
- Tanya Shadley – TRS Youngsters Basis (Virginia Seashore, VA)
- Eden-Reneé Hayes – Pluralism Options (Wayland, MA)
- Mandi Hawke – Proud Empowerment Enterprise Options (Boynton Seashore, FL)
- Katherine Osborn – Nowhere Collective (Chicago, IL)
The digital pitch competitors is one among 5 occasions being held nationwide in celebration of SCORE’s sixtieth anniversary. Upcoming regional contests will happen in Los Angeles (Sept. 26) and Houston (Oct. 3).
For extra info or to look at a recording of the digital competitors, go to SCORE’s webinar library or the sixtieth Anniversary Pitch Competitors web page on SCORE.org.
