Enthuse Foundation Announces the Finalists of its Sixth Annual Women Founders Pitch Competition

New York, NY – October 22, 2024 – The Enthuse Foundation, a non-profit organization benefiting women entrepreneurs is proud to announce it’s the finalists for its Sixth Annual Pitch Competition to support women making their mark in the food, beverage, and CPG spaces. This year’s event will be held on November 14 at The Town Hall by Skylight and simulcast virtually to a global audience.

Five women founders, selected from more than 320 applications, will pitch their businesses to a panel of judges vying for cash and other business-building prizes. The finalists include:

• Michelle Houston, To Be Honest Beverage Company. To Be Honest Beverage Company, based in San Luis Obispo, CA, offers elevated non-alcoholic hemp infused spirit alternatives to replace the liquor or alcohol in crafted cocktails.
• Cherissa Kell, Neotein. Neotein, based in Jacksonville, FL, is an omnichannel wellness brand that offers a patent-pending electrolyte and protein drink mix in convenient packaging.
• Claire Matern, JONI. JONI, based in New York, is a verjus based sparkling non-alcoholic canned drink.
• Morgan Murdock, Unbothered Foods. Unbothered Foods, based in Chicago, is a dietitian-founded, gut-friendly sourdough cracker brand.
• Suzanne Sinatra, Private Packs. Private Packs, based in New York, makes ergonomic, body-safe hot and cold therapy packs designed to relieve intimate discomfort with its first product addressing vulvovaginal pain.

Before the Pitch Competition, there will be a marketplace of 15 different women-owned brands including the five finalists.

“We’re incredibly proud to continue our mission of supporting women founders through the 6th Annual Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition,” said Kim Lawton, CEO of Enthuse Marketing and Co-Founder of Enthuse Foundation. “With women receiving less than 2% of VC capital, this event remains a critical platform to elevate and champion the innovative women leaders in CPG who deserve more opportunities to shine. Our finalists are driving change, and we’re thrilled to celebrate their vision and resilience.”

The finalists will compete to win no-strings cash prizes and tailored business services.

As part of its regular programming, the Enthuse Foundation hosts national meetings and webinars to help women grow their businesses, provides monetary donations to support women business owners, and shares original content across numerous digital platforms.

The Pitch Competition would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors and in-kind sponsors, including 21Seeds, 1919 Investment Counsel, The Alera Group, Accountability, Citrin Cooperman, Cross Agency, Fidelity Investment, Kendra Scott, Stakt, Webster Bank, b2bkp by Kelly Parker, BrandSpoken, EmergeCPG, Hummingbirds, Luminary and SeeFood Media.

Since its inception, the Enthuse Foundation has given $250,000 cash and in-kind services to women-owned businesses through its pitch competition and grant initiative.

“Our Pitch Competition is my favorite day of the year, “said Kristy Snyder, Chief People Officer at Enthuse Marketing, and Co-Founder of the Enthuse Foundation. “I can’t believe how much the event has evolved in six years that now we can distribute approximately $60,000 in cash and in-kind prizes in one evening in front of 200 people live in NYC and hundreds more watching globally. It’s really a testament to our community, board of directors, and sponsors for their tireless support of championing women entrepreneurs.”

Who: Women Founders in the Food, Beverage, or CPG Industries

What: The Enthuse Foundation’s 6th Annual Women Founders Pitch Competition

When: Pitch Night and Marketplace – November 14, 2024 (RSVP)

Where: The Town Hall by Skylight

PENN 2, 2 Pennsylvania Plaza                                                                                          

Enter @ 7th Ave and West 33rdNew York, NY 10121

The Prizes

One grand prize valued at $34,000 will be awarded and includes $15,000 cash, $10,000 worth of business services from Enthuse Marketing, and in-kind prizes from Hummingbirds, SeeFood Media, Luminary, EmergeCPG, and b2bkp by Kelly Parker.

The second prize is valued at $25,000 and includes $10,000 cash, $10,000 in Enthuse Marketing business services, and in-kind prizes from Hummingbirds, EmergeCPG, and b2bkp by Kelly Parker.

Additionally, there will be an audience choice prize worth $5,500 with support from Stakt, a women-owned wellness brand that creates the most functional, versatile, and convenient fitness products that inspire movement, and an in-kind prize from Hummingbirds.

Judges

• Jack Edwards, President of North America, illycaffè
• Kat Hantas, Co-Founder, 21Seeds
• Eugene Khabensky, VP Head of Global Ventures, Diageo
• Arion Long, Founder, Femly and 2020 Pitch Competition Winner

About the Enthuse Foundation

The Enthuse Foundation invests in a new generation of women founders and cultivates the next generation of business leaders. It is a non-profit organization serving women entrepreneurs through community building, education, resources, inspiration, mentorship, grants, and events. Learn more.