YWCA South Florida Holds First Annual Pitch Competition for Female Entrepreneurs

Miami, Fla. – YWCA South Florida, a leading voice for women, girls and all marginalized individuals across South Florida, held its first annual Level Up Pitch Competition for female entrepreneurs on Saturday, June 1.

With grant funding from YWCA USA and Proctor & Gamble, the Level Up Pitch Competition was created to provide financial support for graduates of YWCA South Florida’s WE360 women’s entrepreneurship program. The WE360 program allows women to network, gain mentorship and access the necessary tools to support and scale their small businesses in the South Florida community.

 The 2024 Level Up Pitch Competition finalists include:

●        Angela Tillman, She Balloons

●        Breanna Lewis, Pretty Sexucated

●        Danie Spikes, Beloved Box

●        Lakeycia Cooper-Garcia, Lollipops & Gumdrops

●        Natacha Metaye, JNCY Jewelers

The top three winners were announced as Lakeycia Cooper-Garcia (first place), Natacha Metayer (second place) and Danie Spikes (third place), and were collectively awarded over $18,000 to further support their missions. The competition was judged by Alan Alvarez, Director of Educational Programs at the Miami Bayside Foundation;

Michelle Singh, CEO of LCT-E Learning Solutions and Founder of Restful Teacher; and Mauricio Jaramillo, Small Business Banker at Bank of America. In addition to the competition, participants and attendees had the opportunity to network and engage with local businesses and entrepreneurs.

"The first annual Level Up Pitch Competition marks a significant milestone in our mission to support female entrepreneurs in South Florida," said Kerry-Ann Royes, President and CEO of YWCA South Florida. "By providing these women with the resources and platform to showcase their ideas, we drive meaningful change and promote economic empowerment. Our collaboration with YWCA USA and Proctor & Gamble highlights our unwavering commitment to fostering resilience, growth and opportunities for all women in our community."

To commemorate the inaugural competition, YWCA South Florida announced the launch of their new entrepreneurial volunteer program, Business Beacons. The Business Beacons are a volunteer network of professionals and mentors in fields such as marketing, finance, law, taxation, human resources, franchising and more, who will be connected to WE360 alumnae for one-on-one mentoring sessions. The initiative will extend support to small businesses in the WE360 environment and provide technical assistance and industry knowledge to support their growth.

The Pitch Competition was hosted with the support of YWCA USA, Proctor & Gamble, Bank of America and The Venture Mentoring Team. For more information about YWCA South Florida, including its programs, services and upcoming events in the South Florida community, visit ywcasouthflorida.org.

ABOUT YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA

YWCA South Florida seeks to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Combining direct service programming and advocacy, YWCA South Florida works across three key areas: racial justice and civil rights; empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls; and health and safety of women and girls. The organization has been at the forefront of some of South Florida’s most significant social issues since it was founded in 1920 and has worked to improve the lives of more than 3.1 million adults and children.