The second annual LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competition, held by Penn State Lehigh Valley LaunchBox, featured five entrepreneurs showcasing their products and competing for prizes.
The competition celebrates and supports female entrepreneurship in the Lehigh Valley area. It was held June 26 at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Center Valley. 
“LaunchBox Ladies is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools and opportunities needed to excel. Pitch competitions are a testament to the incredible talent and ambition within our community. Hosting pitch competitions offers early-stage startups the opportunity to share their innovations, network with potential mentors and funders and gain access to expert support,” said Dr. Tina Q. Richardson, Chancellor at Penn State Lehigh Valley who is a member of the Board of Directors of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC).
The grand prize winner was Nadia Alicia, Ed.D., director of Language Project LLC – Spanish Immersion TV. The subscription based online Spanish learning platform offers on-demand lessons for learners ages 2 to 5. She won $2,500.
The runner-up was Christie Hurley. She owns Threads by Gram, which produces high-quality machine embroidery on everyday products and apparel. The company collaborates with other small businesses to help them develop such products. She won $1,500.
They were among five finalists, chosen from 29 applicants. The other finalists were:
Shante Grayer of Shante’s Travel Things, which produces handmade travel and outdoor accessories. She won the $1,000 Audience Choice prize.
Paloma Soledad of Krysalis Kouture, which makes comfortable and elegant adaptable clothing to meet medical accessibility needs.
Alexa-Nichole Villafana of Network Exchange Magazine, an online and print magazine that brings Northeast PA the latest in arts and entertainment.
They pitched their products live to a panel of judges: Carol Obando-Derstine of PPL, Dr. Vasu Singh of Family Medicine in Bethlehem and UPMC Health Plan, Sally Handlon of Handlon Business Resources, and Emily Lyter of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network.
The emcee for the event was Denise Ogden, marketing professor at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Penn State Lehigh Valley LaunchBox offers entrepreneurial programs and resources that are free to all Pennsylvania residents and businesses. It connects Lehigh Valley entrepreneurs to the support, resources, and facilities they need to build a sustainable and scalable business with a viable plan for growth while helping them avoid common mistakes startups often face so they can focus on growing their business.
LaunchBox Ladies is an educational series focusing on the unique challenges and victories of female entrepreneurs who impact the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
Business incubators and accelerators like LaunchBox are valuable resources for entrepreneurs, said Cindy Evans, Director of Business Development at LaunchBox Ladies.
“As we continue to host events such as this, we look forward to growing a network of women who look to continue supporting, engaging and inspiring other female entrepreneurs,” she said.
This article is written from information provided by Penn State Lehigh Valley in an article on their website, which can be viewed here.
(Photo courtesy of Penn State Lehigh Valley LaunchBox).