Pitch Hamburg’s second cohort makes the case for growing businesses

When Pitch Hamburg held its second annual competition last week, it brought together an impressive contingent of judges eager to be part of the growing suburban business incubator.

But those judges ended up being just as impressed with the competition’s final cohort, made up of five companies that were all already past the idea phase.

One of the judges was so blown away by a company participating in the Community Pitch event that he made the founder a surprising and extremely helpful offer.

Tye Caldwell, co-founder and chief strategy officer of former 43North winner ShearShare, has offered to pay Tina Royal’s first month’s rent when she finds a home for her beauty enhancement business TinasLocs.

“It’s incredible to see that. The judges can pick up on the energy,” said Annamaria Masucci, executive director of Pitch Hamburg.

“This community of entrepreneurs is incredible,” she added. “Just seeing them actually support newcomers is just amazing and inspiring. »

TinasLocs, which helps clients manage their textured hair, was one of three winners in the recent competition held at Hilbert College. Loaded potato restaurant Pudgy Potatoes, founded by Jeanetta Sullivan, and meal prep service Jess in the Kitchn, founded by Jess Betzig, also won $5,000 to support the continued development of their businesses.

Jennifer Kuhn of Hamburg Overhead Door was also a judge; Mercedes Wilson of Sadie’s Relish; Megan Kelly, head of startup success at the University at Buffalo Cultivator; and Lauren Gibson of Rise Fitness Studio in Hamburg.

The company’s founders were able to use rehearsals the day before the competition to polish their presentations and become more comfortable on stage, Masucci said. This shows on the pitch, she added.

“It all depends on the people behind the companies,” Masucci said. “It was cool to see them present and really let their personalities shine through.”

Masucci will meet with the three competition winners to discuss using the incubator space on Main Street in Hamburg to sell and market their items. And she’ll have this conversation with Royal about finding a retail space that includes a month’s rent paid.

“It doesn’t stop once the competition is over,” Masucci said. “There are still things they want to work on. I told them all that we were now a community and that you would always have us here.

Since these were all existing businesses, Masucci said the goal was to help them find their next step, which included creating social media content to help with their marketing.

“They needed different things than last year’s businesses, so we thought about what they needed most and then worked together to make sure they got that out of this experience,” he said. -she declared.

With three of the five companies in the cohort being food sector entities, the pitch event also included a catering and networking hour held before the start of the competition. Two of the companies brought samples to help them market their products.

And, for the second year in a row, fifth graders from Charlotte Avenue Elementary School in Hamburg presented the businesses they had created over the past few months to Hilbert’s audience, while the judges deliberated.

“Those are always the biggest hits,” Masucci said. “People love them. It was incredible to see. It really ties the whole community together and has the feeling that we are all trying to create together.

Three Buffalo entrepreneurs won first places in the She Means Business pitch competition and received a total of $10,000 in prize money to help them take their minority and women-owned businesses to the next level.

Janna Willoughby-Lohr won first place in the competition last month and won $5,000 for her business Papercraft Miracles, a sustainable handmade stationery and paper art business that has been in business for 18 years.

Jess Kent placed second and won $3,000 for Clark Mediation, a provider of confidential negotiation and mediation services that has been in business for three years.

Third place was Kara Oliver-Pérez of Buffalo, who won $2,000 for Native Pens Collaborative Publishing, a children’s book publishing, consulting and coaching company focused on diverse storytelling and increasing access to culturally relevant literature.

The competition, presented by PathStone’s Enterprise Center with support from Citizens Bank, included a seven-week training program designed to empower women entrepreneurs.

For four years, the competition has also helped break down financial barriers faced by minority entrepreneurs, said Javier E. Zapata, president and executive director of PathStone’s Enterprise Center.

“Empowering She Means Business pitch competition participants by providing access to resources and training helps propel startup businesses to new heights,” Zapata said.

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The Buffalo Next team gives you insight into the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to [email protected] or contact Buffalo Next editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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