Congratulations!
Five women founders, selected from more than 320 applications, pitched their businesses to a panel of judges vying for cash and other business-building prizes. The winners included:
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Grand Prize - Unbothered Foods, Chicago, IL, Founder: Morgan Murdock. Unbothered Foods, a dietitian-founded, gut-friendly sourdough cracker brand, won $15,000 in cash, 20 hours of in-kind services from Enthuse, a one-year virtual membership to Luminary, access to Hummingbirds user-generated content platform, a social media package from SeeFood Media, a one-year Learning Pass from EmergeCPG, a brand and sales building program helping emerging CPG founders grow sustainably and profitably, and a one-hour coaching call with Kelly Anne Parker, the Founder of Send Ribbon (acquired by UrbanStems). $35,000 prize value.
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Runner-Up - JONI, Brooklyn, NY Founder: Claire Matern. JONI, a verjus based sparkling non-alcoholic canned drink, won $10,000 in cash, 20 hours of in-kind services from Enthuse, access to Hummingbirds user-generated content platform, a one-year Learning Pass from EmergeCPG, a brand and sales building program helping emerging CPG founders grow sustainably and profitably, and a one-hour coaching call with Kelly Anne Parker, the Founder of Send Ribbon (acquired by UrbanStems). $25,000 prize value.
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Audience Choice - Private Packs Brooklyn, NY, Founder: Suzanne Sinatra. Private Packs, makes ergonomic, body-safe hot and cold therapy packs designed to relieve intimate discomfort with its first product addressing vulvovaginal pain, won $3,000 in cash and access to Hummingbirds user-generated content platform. $6,000 prize value.
The finalists included To Be Honest Beverage Co. a brand that offers elevated non-alcoholic hemp infused spirit alternatives to replace the liquor or alcohol in crafted cocktails, founded by Michelle Houston, and NEOTEIN, a patent-pending electrolyte and protein drink mix, founded by Cherissa Kell.
#NewToNext
Introducing our
2025 PITCH COMPETITION FINALISTS
Our Tentpole Event
We have the privilege of working with women entrepreneurs every day. However, our annual Pitch Competition is a celebration of the guts, hustle, and courage it takes to live the entrepreneurial life.
The Top 5 Final entrepreneurs pitch their business live in New York City in front of a panel of industry experts.
Four industry experts pick the winners, awarding one worthy entrepreneur the chance to take home the title of Enthuse Foundation’s Pitch Competition Winner of the Year.
The Path to the Pitch Competition
Since 2019, women entrepreneurs have applied for the Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition. In addition to competing for a chance to win cash and prizes, finalists are forever linked with four other entrepreneurs.
Enter the Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition and you never know what exciting connections and potential could come of it.
2025 Eligibility
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Food, beverage, or CPG business founder
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Women own at least 51% of business
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The company has a minimum amount of sales of at least $10,000
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Business created on or after January 1, 2021
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Revenue does not exceed $750,000
Timeline
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Monday, August 4 - Applications Open
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Wednesday, August 20 - Pitch Deck Review Session with Katie Dunn
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Monday, September 22 - Applications Close
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Thursday, November 6 - 7th Annual Pitch Competition
Criteria
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At least 51% women-owned
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U.S. based
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At least one founder must be a U.S. citizen
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Companies with revenue up to $750K
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At least $10K in lifetime sales
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Founded after Jan. 1, 2021
Thank You Pitch Competition Sponsors
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The Prizes
$15,000 Cash. No strings attached.
In-kind business services from Enthuse (valued at $75,000).
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An extensive evaluation of your brand’s social media presence conducted by Hootsuite. This audit will provide insights into performance across platforms, identify opportunities for growth, and offer actionable strategies to optimize engagement, reach, and impact (valued at $3,510).
Access to one of Katie Dunn’s Digital Twins — an interactive, AI-powered advisor designed to help founders refine strategy, sharpen their investor narrative, and make smarter business decisions. Three (3) 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with Katie Dunn, offering live, tailored feedback and actionable strategies to accelerate your brand’s growth and fundraising readines (valued at $2500).
Financial Health Assessment and Strategic Financial Roadmap with Elena Minton, co-owner of SFT Consulting (valued at $2,000)
1:1 Momentum Session with Julie Pryor, founder of EmergeCPG, designed to accelerate founders’ growth results, focusing on one of the following. Target Audience Clarity, Brand Clarity, or Channel Sales Plan (valued at $1,000).
One-on-One retail strategy consulting call with Allison Ball, specialty food consultant, former Grocery buyer, and founder of Food Biz Wiz® (valued at $600).
Interview on Emerging Brands Podcast® hosted by Kelly Bennett
Total prize package = $102,000+
$10,000 Cash. No strings attached.
In-kind business services from Enthuse (valued: $75,000)
Morgan Stanley financial planning and informal business valuation consultation (valued at $5,000)
Financial Health Assessment and Strategic Financial Roadmap with Elena Minton, co-owner of SFT Consulting (valued at $2,000)
One-on-One retail strategy consulting call with Allison Ball, specialty food consultant, former Grocery buyer, and founder of Food Biz Wiz® (valued at $600).
Interview on Emerging Brands Podcast® hosted by Kelly Bennett
Total prize package = $92,600+
Presented by Kendra Scott SoHo and Launch Grow Exit
$3,000 Cash. No Strings Attached.
Quarterly mentoring and business strategy meetings with Kelly Anne Parker, founder of Launch Grow Exit (valued at $3,000)
Total prize package = $6,000
Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to win cash and in-kind business services to help grow their businesses.