Small Businesses Pitch for $100K in WBDC Grants

On Sept. 30 in Hartford, eight Connecticut women-owned small businesses will make their best pitches to secure $25,000 from the Women’s Business Development Council.

But only four will walk away winners in the $100,000 Accelerate Grant Pitch Competition—a live event that caps off WBDC’s inaugural Catalyst Symposium at Trinity College.

The half-day symposium is designed to equip women entrepreneurs with tools, strategies, insight, and inspiration to launch, grow, and sustain thriving small businesses.

It will feature networking, workshops, and a marketplace of products and ideas from women-owned businesses in Connecticut, before culminating into in the pitch competition.

The eight finalists:

• Cailin McBee, Balance Massage & Wellness Center, Newington
• Ali Lazowski, Bare Life, West Hartford
• Monica Beaudoin and Alexandra Pilon, Bloom Bake Shop, Hartford
• Dr. Mahri Wrightington, PD Monster, Quaker Hill
• Sadie Marshall, Sadie’s Professional Cleaning Services, Hamden
• Tammy Gerhard and Sarah May, Silk City Coffee, Manchester
• Dr. Amanda Swan, Swan Integrative Health and Wellness, Glastonbury
• Priscilla Igram and Christine Orlando, The Studio Fairfield, Fairfield

Founded in 1997, WBDC offers classes, advising, funding, mentoring and a childcare support program to educate, motivate, and empower women to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency.