The 2017 InnovateHER pitch competition highlighting Phoenix area female entrepreneurs happened June 1, 2017 at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University’s downtown campus.
Winners
The Overall Winner was Mallory Dyer, GraphLock, a mobile and web-based application that transforms a smartphone, tablet or a laptop into a fully functioning scientific and graphing calculator with a unique LockDown mode. The Judges’ Choice award went to P.K. Fields, ElderSense, a solution for finding high quality, senior living, assisted living homes and adult group homes.
Sponsored and organized by Co+Hoots Foundation, ASU E+I, Maricopa Small Business Development Center and Women Who StartUp, female founders were invited to apply for the 2017 Phoenix InnovateHER Grant and Pitch Showcase in May. Applicants submitted a pitch deck and business plan.
Judging Criteria
The submissions were judged on: having a measurable impact on the lives of women and families; having the potential for commercialization; and filling a need in the
marketplace. Finalists were invited to the present at a public event June 1st. The competition winner is then submitted to a national pool for a chance to pitch in Washington D.C. for $70,000 in grant funding.
2017 Phoenix InnovateHER judges were Donna Davis, Regional Administrator, US Small Business Administration; Annie Groth, CFBS, Financial Designs and Services, MassMutual-Arizona; Rick Stoddard, Partner, Coplex; and Kathy Sacks, Founder & CEO; COLEAP.
Finalists
Finalists in the 2017 Phoenix InnovateHER Grant and Pitch Showcase included:
- Neck Up Check Up, a school-based mental health screening similar to vision and hearing screenings;
- She’s Trending;
- Vitalship;
- Evelyn Ford Shoes;
- and I’ve Been Vetted.
Women Who Startup–Phoenix
Women Who Startup plans more events locally. Their #BasecampPhoenix meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday at Galvanize, Phoenix.
Eileen M. Kane 