NAWBO Philadelphia Women's Pitch Competition

She Pitches
Philly

Closing the gap on women business owners' access to capital.

Do you own a business that's ready to grow? The NAWBO Philadelphia Women's Pitch Competition puts prize money behind early-stage and small growth-stage women-owned businesses across the Greater Philadelphia, Lehigh and Northampton region. One afternoon. One stage. A real shot at the capital and visibility that can change what's next for your business.

When

October 16, 2026 · 1:00–4:00 PM

Applications Have Closed

Where

Villanova University, Connelly Center

Buy Tickets to Attend

Meet Our 2026 Finalists

Heather Marston

Owner of Pureblend Tea

“We have built our company thoughtfully, one blend and one customer at a time, while staying true to our commitment to quality and the simple pleasure of real tea.”

Pureblend Tea creates handcrafted loose-leaf blends using high-quality teas, herbs and botanicals sourced from around the world. From comforting classics to creative seasonal flavors, Heather’s independent tea company serves customers online, in its retail location and through wholesale partnerships with cafés, coffee shops and retailers.

Her pitch: invest in professional branding and packaging, website improvements and upgraded production equipment. These resources would help Pureblend Tea reach more customers, grow its wholesale business and increase production capacity while maintaining the quality behind every blend.

Founder & CEO of Mad Money Innovations

Nicole Rayfield

“At Mad Money Labs, we get mad at everyday problems – and then we get busy solving them.”

As a business owner and frequent vendor, Nicole knows how exhausting it can be to transport equipment, set up a booth and break it all down – especially alone. Through Mad Money Labs, she’s developing solutions that take the hassle out of the hustle, starting with the patent-pending Table Trolley™, which makes an existing folding table easier to transport.

Her pitch: fund manufacturing and launch costs to get the Table Trolley™ into customers’ hands. That launch would also help support her next concept, Hustle Helpers™, an on-demand service connecting entrepreneurs with local help for loading, unloading and event setup.

Melissa Clouser-Missett

Owner & Founder of Cut & Sew PHL

“Having the ability to repair a textile that ripped or alter a garment to better fit the body is incredibly empowering and encourages us to take better care of the items we use each day, rather than discarding them to replace them.”

Cut & Sew PHL brings sewing, quilting and creative education to Northwest Philadelphia through classes for kids, families and adults. Its Previously Loved Collection makes secondhand materials and tools more affordable while keeping useful supplies out of landfills.

Her pitch: bring weekly afterschool sewing classes to four neighborhood public elementary schools. Prize funding would help purchase sewing machines, tools and equipment so more kids can learn without families needing to arrange transportation to the studio. It would also fund custom shelving to make better use of the shop’s existing space.

Nicole Weirich

Founder & President of Acute Baby Co.

“A space needed to exist that supported parents, let kids be kids, and gave them the room and the support to actually grow. So we built it.”

After 13 years in special education, Nicole created The Clubhouse in Phoenixville to give kids ages 4–12 a place to practice sharing, build confidence and navigate friendships through play. Its small-group, screen-free, educator-led programs include summer camp, school closure days, birthday parties and family events.

Her pitch: fund staffing and outreach to serve more families on the 40 school closure dates ahead. For this family-run, self-funded business, prize money would help Nicole commit to staff before registrations come in – and say yes to more kids.

Come See Them Pitch

Wendy Barbalinardo,

Founder of The Clubhouse

“After trying nursing pillow after nursing pillow, I realized the problem wasn't me. Breastfeeding isn't one-size-fits-all, but the products available to moms are.”

Inspired by her own breastfeeding struggles, Wendy spent six years designing, prototyping and testing the support she couldn’t find. The result: The Wedge, a patented adjustable-angle breastfeeding support system that can elevate a nursing pillow or work on its own, giving moms more ways to get comfortable.

Her pitch: help bring The Wedge to more moms by funding inventory for its first production run and marketing to build awareness. Wendy has bootstrapped Acute Baby Co. while raising two young children, with a vision of creating thoughtful products that support women throughout their postpartum and breastfeeding journeys.

01 — The Opportunity

Why this competition exists

Women entrepreneurs build resilient, innovative businesses, but too often without equal access to the capital that helps those businesses scale. The NAWBO Philadelphia Women's Pitch Competition was created to close that gap.

This competition is designed to

01 Elevate women-owned businesses across the Greater Philadelphia region
02 Provide access to capital and visibility that fuels real growth
03 Showcase scalable, innovative, and sustainable business models
04 Strengthen NAWBO's role as a catalyst for women entrepreneurs

< $500K

Built specifically for early-stage and small growth-stage women-owned businesses generating under $500,000 in annual revenue — the businesses that stand to benefit most from catalytic funding, right when they need it most.

02 — The Prize

Real capital, on the table

Every finalist walks away with capital, visibility, and a room full of investors, advisors, and fellow entrepreneurs who now know their name.

Don't forget to rally your supporters — the Crowd Favorite award is decided live, digitally, so your network can help cheer you across the finish line.

03 — Who Should Apply

Built for women ready to grow

This opportunity is built for women entrepreneurs ready to grow. To apply, your business must meet the following criteria.

If that sounds like you, we want to see what you're building.

04 — How to Apply

Applying is simple

Here's what to expect, from your first submission to the stage at Villanova.

01 Pay the application fee

A $25 application fee applies — free for NAWBO members.

03 Get selected as a finalist

A select group of finalists will be invited to verify their eligibility with standard business documentation — good standing, formation documents, ownership records, and financials — and prepare to pitch live.

04

Submit your application

Tell us about your business, your team, your traction, and your vision. Applications include short-answer questions on your business model, your value proposition, and the impact this funding would have on your growth — plus the option to submit a short video to bring your pitch to life.

Application is due by September 15.

Pitch live at Villanova University

Finalists take the stage on October 16, 2026, in front of a live audience and a panel of judges — with real capital on the line.

05 — The Event

One afternoon in Villanova

Date

October 16, 2026

Time

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Doors close by 5:00 PM

Location

Villanova University

Connelly Center, Villanova Room

Join us for an afternoon of bold ideas, live pitches, and a reception celebrating the women building the future of the Greater Philadelphia business community. Whether you're pitching, judging, or cheering from the audience, you'll be part of a room built entirely around women's success.

Apply Now

Pay Application Fee

06 — Ready to Pitch

Your business has a story worth telling.

And a future worth funding. Apply today and take your seat at the table.