LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competition

Annual LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competition
This annual event celebrates and supports early-stage female founders across the Greater Lehigh Valley by providing a platform to share their ideas, refine their pitch, and gain visibility within the region’s entrepreneurial community.
Are you ready for the June 23, 2027 event??? - Applications will open March 1, 2027

Pitch. Connect. Accelerate.

Designed to empower women entrepreneurs building innovative ventures, the competition offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable pitch experience while connecting with mentors, business leaders, and community supporters invested in strengthening the regional startup ecosystem.

What to Expect

Participants present their business concepts to a panel of judges—comprised of investors, industry experts, and community leaders—while engaging an audience of fellow entrepreneurs, supporters, and potential collaborators. Each competition includes networking opportunities, constructive feedback, and a celebration of women who are making bold moves in business.

 

Open to entrepreneurs at various stages, the LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competitions are more than just contests—they’re catalysts for confidence, connection, and community-driven success. Step into the spotlight. Share your story. Spark your future.

“Events like the Ladies Pitch Competition help elevate women entrepreneurs and provide critical opportunities for connection and growth. We are proud to create a space where women founders can share their ideas, build confidence, and accelerate their ventures.”

– Cindy Evans, Director of Lehigh Valley LaunchBox

Check out the recordings from past LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competitions

Lehigh Valley LaunchBox Ladies 4th Annual Pitch Competition

Five women entrepreneurs took the stage at Penn State Lehigh Valley on June 24 to pitch their businesses during the fourth annual LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competition, an annual event designed to help women founders gain visibility, receive expert feedback and compete for funding to grow their businesses.

The 2026 finalists represented a wide range of industries and business ideas:

  • Ali “Amac” McGuire, founder of Amaculent Mindset, which focuses on mindset, music and motivation.
  • April Schiel, founder of Empowering Transit, a nonmedical wheelchair transportation service.
  • Lisa Pammer, founder of Green Pond Packaging, a wholesale supplier of compostable packaging products.
  • Virginia Ellen, founder of Hangout for Art, which promotes creativity, artistic expression and community engagement through accessible art experiences.
  • Donna Boden, owner of The Happy Mixer franchise, a gluten-free bakery business.

LaunchBox Ladies presents the Second Annual LaunchBox Ladies Pitch competition.

June 26, 2024

  • Grand Prize Winner: Nadia Alicia, Language Project, LLC
  • Runner Up: Christie Hurley, Threads by Gram
  • Audience Favorite: Shante Grayer, Shante’s Travel Things
  • Paloma Soledad, Krysalis Kouture
  • Alexia Villafana, Network Exchange

LaunchBox Ladies presents the First Annual LaunchBox Ladies Pitch competition.

June 25, 2023