NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Extended Deadline for Be BOLD Pitch Competition

YW3CA’s WE360° Announces Extended Deadline for First-Ever ‘Be BOLD Pitch Competition’ with Cash Prizes up to $7,500 

YWCA Tri-County Area’s (YW3CA) Women’s Empowerment 360° (WE360°) Program is designed to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs transform and propel their businesses. This year, the program is expanding offerings with a Pitch Competition and cash prizes themed “Building Opportunity & Leading Defiantly.”  

In partnership with Procter & Gamble Co., YWCA USA, and YW3CA, associations nationwide are hosting Pitch Competitions to support local entrepreneurs and their programs. This Pitch Competition will allow women entrepreneurs across the Tri-County Area to compete for funding to support their growing businesses.  

Be Bold will bring together a diverse community of individuals committed to starting, sustaining, or growing their businesses and offer finalists the opportunity to compete for cash prizes. Join us at The Complex, 724 N. Adams Street, on April 20th at 10 a.m. 

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The application deadline is extended to March 15th for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses are now open.  Applicants must complete 4 sessions of WE360° programming to be eligible. 

Any WE360° participant attending at least 4 of the upcoming cohort sessions before the Pitch Competition will be eligible to compete. Sessions are held online via Zoom from 6 pm to 7 pm. 

Participants selected to compete can present their pitch to a panel of experienced judges who will award cash prizes to the top three businesses. The first-place winner will receive $7,500, the second-place winner will receive $6,000, and the third-place winner will receive $5,000 to invest in their business. 

Applicants can apply online by visiting Apply to We360

We are actively seeking Judges for our first annual Be BOLD Pitch Competition. 

Professionals with the following qualities should apply: 

• Industry Experience can provide valuable insights and feedback to participating start-ups. 
• Entrepreneurial Background can offer practical advice for the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. 
• Investment or Funding Experience in venture capital, angel investing, or funding start-ups can help assess the business plans’ potential for growth and scalability. 
• Strategic Vision helps evaluate a business plan’s long-term potential and viability, providing constructive feedback for improvement. 
• Ethical and Fair Judgment demonstrates integrity, fairness, and impartiality in evaluating the competition’s participants. 
• Communication Skills enable clear, constructive feedback to start-up and business pitch competition participants. 
• Diversity of judges with varied backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise ensures a well-rounded evaluation of business plans. 

Judge applications for WE360°’s Be BOLD Pitch Competition can be accessed via www.yw3ca.org/we360 

For questions about YW3CA’s WE360° program or Be Bold competition, contact Ariel.baker@ywcatricountyarea.org. 

Support YW3CA’s WE360° Program 

Partners and sponsors provide critical financial support to fuel WE360°. This vital work can’t be done without meaningful, high-impact partnerships that foster learning, growth, and understanding. Engagement helps build a more robust generation of entrepreneurs and small businesses that transform communities. 

Businesses interested in collaborating to uplift the community should contact advancement@ywcatricountyarea.org.  

For more information on YW3CA events, visit yw3ca.org/events/ or follow us on social media, @YW3CA.