Founders Invited to Participate in Nationwide Women's Fast Pitch Competition
The Californer/10083208

SAN DIEGO - Californer -- Business accelerator Stella Labs today announced a call for entries for its inaugural Women's Fast Pitch competition series, which will take place virtually every Tuesday evening for six weeks starting on August 4, 2020. Each week, participants from a different United States region will pitch their business ventures in front of investors and members of the startup community. The winner from each region will advance to the national competition which will take place during Women's Venture Summit on September 18 and 19, 2020. One winner will take home a $10,000 investment and $30,000 in in-kind services.

Female founders, especially founders of color, who formed their businesses prior to June 1, 2020 are eligible to apply starting today. All applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of investors and innovation advocates. To apply, visit www.womensventuresummit.org/2020wfp/

"Our goal has always been to increase representation and funding opportunities for women- and minority-led startups," says Raven O'Neal, executive director of Stella Labs. "Because we are making this year's Women's Fast Pitch a fully virtual experience, we are expanding our reach and ensuring the representation of diverse founders nationwide."

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The schedule is as follows:

August 4 at 3 p.m. local time – Northeast

August 11 at 3 p.m. local time – Southeast

August 18 at 3 p.m. local time – Midwest

August 25 at 3 p.m. local time – Northwest

September 1 at 3 p.m. local time – Southwest

September 8 at 3 p.m. local time – San Diego, where Stella Labs is headquartered

September 18 and 19 – Finalists will pitch at Women's Venture Summit and a winner will be named

The virtual competition series will run on a female-owned, peer-to-peer online platform called Innovations City. Apply at www.womensventuresummit.org/2020wfp/.

About Stella Labs:

Formerly Hera Labs, the female-focused business accelerator equips entrepreneurs through intensive workshops to launch, grow and sustain profitable businesses. Interactive labs, strategy sessions, female-founder intensives and accountability groups offer sustained support that allows women-led businesses to flourish. For more information, please visit stellalabs.org.