As of 2015, there were over 9.4 million women-owned businesses in the United States, generating nearly $1.5 trillion in revenues, employing more than 7.9 million people, and fueling the economy by adding 340,000 jobs between 2007 and 2015. 
The data speaks for itself – women have a substantial impact on economic growth. Despite the undeniable success of female entrepreneurs and their impact on the global economy, there are still challenges.
This is where the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) makes an impact.
“The active outdoor industries are leaders in innovation and technological break-throughs; we do not settle for status quo,” said Deanne Buck, executive director of OIWC. “The opportunity to take a global leadership role as an industry around profiling and elevating women entrepreneurs is ripe and exciting. Through Pitchfest, OIWC is meeting the number one need identified by entrepreneurs – a need for mentorship, while shining a spotlight on the industries’ efforts to welcome fresh thinking gained through diversity of experience.”
OIWC is now accepting applications for its Pitchfest event, which is designed to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the snow, bike, run, and outdoor industries by giving female entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their business needs to influential CEOs and executives.
Funded in part by The REI Foundation’s Mary Anderson Legacy Grant, Pitchfest is tailored to progressive small businesses and is currently the only pitch event focused on women entrepreneurs in the active outdoor industry. Each finalist is paired with an experienced entrepreneur and will embark on a two-month mentorship designed to structure their pitch and articulate their unique business needs.They will then live pitch their business to the judging panel to gain insight, visibility, and valuable feedback.
“Pitchfest gave me an incredible opportunity to expose my business to some of the most respected leaders in the industry,” said Arianna Megaro, CEO and founder of BlokRok. “The mentorship experience and the connections that I made during the event will absolutely contribute to my success in growing BlokRok.”
All women-led businesses that are committed to business growth, are focused on the active outdoor industries, and believe in OIWC’s guiding principles are encouraged to apply.
Finalists will gain:
- Exposure: The rare opportunity to pitch in front of a judging panel ofhigh-level industry executives and successful entrepreneurs, and an audience of buyers, investors, and many other influential industry leaders.
- Live feedback: Direct feedback on pitches from mentors and judges which will give finalists a better understanding of the next opportunity for growth.
- Refined business needs: Dedicated time up to the pitch to focus on what each business needs to make it to the next step.
- Connections: Valuable connections with mentors, other finalists, judges, and members from the audience.
- Credibility: Being chosen as a finalist for an industry-specific pitch shows customers and investors that each finalist has traction within the market.
Finalists will be judged by a panel of leaders and entrepreneurs with deep connections within the active outdoor industries, proven business success, expertise in new product development and product to market systems, and a commitment to supporting entrepreneurship.
OIWC is accepting applications through April 30 at 11:59PM MST, learn more at oiwc.org/pitchfest.
Sources cited:
- http://www.womenable.com/66/the-state-of-women-owned-businesses-in-the-u.s.:-2015
- http://www.inc.com/lisa-calhoun/30-surprising-facts-about-female-founders.html