Founders Pitch Competition Event Summary

On November 7, 2024, the OC WBC, in collaboration with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network, hosted the Founders Pitch Competition at the Irvine Marriott. This empowering event was dedicated to spotlighting innovative startups and providing them with opportunities to gain funding, feedback, and valuable connections with fellow entrepreneurs.

Left to right: Mike Daniel, Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network; Anna Vladymyrska, AI Merch; Manal Richa and Kyu Jin Kang, Orange County Women’s Business Center.

The Founders Pitch Competition is a cornerstone initiative designed to support founders by bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and essential funding and networking opportunities. This event offers a supportive yet competitive platform where founders can showcase their startups, refine their pitches, and gain constructive feedback from a panel of expert judges and potential investors. Our mission is to help startups thrive while driving forward the innovation needed in today’s business landscape.

The road to the pitch competition began with a rigorous selection process in which applicants shared their business ideas, market potential, and vision for impact. Five finalists were chosen based on their innovation, scalability, and potential for social or economic impact. These selected entrepreneurs then took the stage at the Irvine Marriott to pitch live, presenting their business models and unique solutions to the audience and an esteemed panel of female investors and judges. Each finalist’s pitch was followed by a Q&A session, allowing the judges to dive deeper into the startup’s mission and potential.

The November 7 competition celebrated five exceptional founders:

• • AIMerch — presented by Anna Vladymyrska: Revolutionizing retail with AI-driven merchandising and the winner of the $5,000 prize.

• • Aleda — presented by Joy Sargis, Ph.D.: Redefining sports fundraising.

• • BRALISSE — presented by Lana Sorokina: Innovating breast shapewear.

• • GOALS2LIFE — presented by Wendee Close: Enhancing productivity and well-being.

• • OliveBio — presented by Yuliana Mihaylova, Ph.D.: Creating affordable bioplastics through biomanufacturing.

In addition to the prize awarded to AIMerch, all finalists received invaluable feedback and networking opportunities to support their future growth. The event connected founders with experienced investors, fostered support, and encouraged each participant to continue advancing their business goals.

This program is made possible through the support of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). We are also grateful for the collaboration of our esteemed judges and promotional partners, who contributed to making this event a success.

Looking Ahead

The Founders Pitch Competition is a vital step toward building an  innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founders looking to receive support in their ventures are encouraged to reach out to the OC WBC at (800) 414-7108 or schedule an intake call to be aligned with one of our experienced consultants.