Meet the WBENCPitch Competition Winners for Metro NY!
The time has come. We are thrilled to congratulate the top four Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) who shined brightly and WOW the audience at the 2024 WBEC Metro NY Regional Pitch Competition on August 14th!
Brought to you by FedEx and PepsiCo, WBENCPitch is a signature WBENC program featuring a series of pitch competitions and educational sessions to help WBEs hone their business pitch, gain meaningful exposure, and compete for grants and other prizes to invest in their business. Participating in Pitch can provide a world of opportunities. It's a platform for growth, networking, and gaining exposure, making it an invaluable experience for every WBE. The theme for this year's pitch was Amplify your Intro. Certified-Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) were invited to apply and introduce their business in a creative and compelling way.
The following four WBEs have demonstrated incredible innovation and determination throughout the process and we are proud to now showcase them as the winners of our region:
1st Place: Maria-Nicole Marino, Panic Panties
Panic Panties provides individually wrapped, pre-washed underwear in convenient places such as the drugstore or pharmacy, so that you can grab a pair quickly and easily when you need them the most such as after a leak or for an unexpected sleepover.
2nd Place: Carrie Sporer, SWAIR
The goal of SWAIR is to create revolutionary haircare made from safe, high quality ingredients for active people. They focus on products that multi-task and save time so you can be in the gym, on the mat, or wherever you break a sweat.
3rd Place: Sheilisa McNeal, Fria Jewelry
Sheilisa created Fria Jewelry in response to the lack of “respectful” options to address the discomfort of overheating due to hot flashes. These “cooling jewels” create a beautiful way to beat the heat without any negative side effects. This is based on the value that nothing, especially not a normal, inevitable, biological function, should get in the way of you being your best self.
4th Place: Jennifer Willey, Wet Cement
Wet Cement programs help participants conquer fear to drive personal, professional, and business growth. The company aims to transform behaviors and mindsets through training, coaching, consulting and keynote speaking services focused on leadership, inclusivity and business development.
Competing against ten outstanding businesses, these remarkable leaders showcased their innovative products and services to an esteemed panel of local corporate members and fellow WBEs, and they stood out among the best. Now, they are advancing to the WBENC National Semi-Finals on October 28th and 29th, representing the very best of our community. We are immensely proud of your achievements and can’t wait to see you succeed on the national stage.
All four of these businesses have remarkably innovative unique selling points. Each provides their customer base with products or services to meet a specific need that each founder or co-founder has come across in their own life experience. Personal life experiences often serve as the catalyst for innovative business ideas. When individuals draw from their own challenges, needs, or passions, they bring authenticity and a deep understanding to the solutions they create.
This personal connection fuels creativity, enabling them to see gaps in the market that others might overlook. Moreover, lived experiences foster empathy, helping entrepreneurs design products or services that genuinely resonate with others facing similar situations. Ultimately, it's this personal touch that can transform an idea into a groundbreaking business venture, rooted in real-world relevance and impact.
Let’s continue to support and cheer for these inspiring women as they make their mark in the business world.
A huge congratulations to all of you! We wish you continued success as you continue to make great gains not only for yourselves and your businesses, but for the entire ecosystem of WBEs across the region who are now rooting for you as we approach the national finals. It’s a pleasure to have you as members of our community and a source of inspiration for our many other members who are thinking of participating in Pitch next year.