The WVU Women’s Business Center and the WVU LaunchLab held a Pitch Challenge May 18 to select a contestant to enter the national semifinals of the 2017 SBA InnovateHer Challenge. Through the competition, the U.S. Small Business Association aims to identify innovative products and services which impact and empower the lives of women and families, fill a need in the marketplace, and have the potential for commercialization. At the Pitch Challenge, contestant Colleen Harshbarger discussed WellBeing Solutions, her company that offers a comprehensive way for women to optimize the health and wellbeing of themselves and their families. Dennis Pollutro presented SoftShot, an innovative weapon recoil reduction system developed with his team which includes WVU Engineering Professor Dr. Thorsten Wuest and WVU Graduate Student Ephraim Pittore. Brittany Furbee submitted Bab Ware, her uniquely designed fishing apparel made specifically for women. After great presentations by the three contestants, judges Kim Moyers of First United Bank & Trust, Julie Mills of All Squared Away, and Sophia Berman of Trusst Lingerie selected the SoftShot team as the winner. Prizes in the form of legal consultation from Attorney Eric Hayhurst, accounting consultation from CPA Tom Aman, and tuition to Women’s Business Center courses were awarded to the contestants. National finalists will travel to Washington, D.C. later this year to participate in a pitch competition. If the winner of the WVU InnovateHer is a national finalist, TechConnect WV will provide up to $500 to assist with travel expenses to the national finals. For more information about services offered by the WVU Women’s Business Center or the LaunchLab, visit wbc.wvu.edu or launch.wvu.edu.
For more information visit: http://wbc.wvu.edu.