S.H.E. Pitch, which recently closed its fourth year, is a pitch competition for female entrepreneurs in both the “idea stage” and “growth stage.” The event, hosted by the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce with sponsorship by The City of Frederick, offers participants an opportunity to present their business ventures in a shark-tank style event to win substantial cash prizes, gain publicity, and forge new networking connections.
This year’s top prizes went to:
Jessica Grigsby
First Sight Frederick – Idea Stage Winner
First Sight Frederick is a 2D/3D/4D/HD elective ultrasound studio specializing in high-quality obstetric imaging for expecting parents. We offer a variety of prenatal packages to help capture all stages of pregnancy (i.e. early gender reveals, facial imaging in the second and third trimester).
Julie Yoder
English with Purpose - Growth Stage Winner
English With Purpose provides advanced English language coaching and communication training for international professionals, teams and organizations working for a better world. Our clients are internationally trained professionals working in English and the multinational organizations and companies that employ them.
Additional honors went to:
Zakia Galliard
Natural Glory – People’s Choice Award
Natural Glory: Empowering Women Through Holistic Hair Restoration. Natural Glory is transforming its natural hair care expertise into a comprehensive solution for women experiencing hair loss, thinning, and scalp concerns. We’re expanding beyond traditional care to offer a holistic hair restoration service that delivers: Effective hair regrowth and retention packages, Expert Trichology services, and Tailored solutions.
Trica Kennedy
Swirls of Frederick – SHEs Rising Award
Swirls of Frederick is the place for families and individuals to find their favorite customized treats including ice cream, frozen yogurt, D’Lite ™ keto ice cream, baked goods, coffee, and bubble tea! Our Grand Opening, sponsored by the Frederick Chamber of Commerce was held on the first day of summer, June 6, 2024. We are located at The Frederick Shopping Center, 1305 W 7th Street, #10, Frederick, MD 21702.
As these impressive ladies begin implementing their award-winning plans, we thought about the many City-based business owners that have shined in past years. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched SEVEN SHE Pitch winners launch or grow a business within City of Frederick limits, including:
Allison Jachowski Odin Crossfit — 2021 Growth Stage Winner
Megan Donovan SHIFT Work + Play — 2022 Idea Stage Winner
Kelly Kuzma JoNa’s Exterior Designs — 2022 Growth Stage Winner
Hannah King Squadstyle Work ‘n Wellness (Formerly SL Studio) — 2022 People’s Choice Award
Tina Harper Dream Free Art — 2022 SHEs Rising Award
Jenni Hoover Serenity Swimming — 2023 Idea Stage Winner
Rachel Anne Warren - Frederick Wig Company — 2023 Growth Stage Winner
Stay tuned on this blog and social media as we share updates, reflections and advice from these inspiring standouts in our “Where is SHE Now” series this fall!
Are you thinking about starting or growing a business?
Contact The City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov to learn more about the resources that can help!