Stella Foundation Unveils Semifinalists for 2025 Women's Fast Pitch Competition
In a remarkable celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Stella Foundation has unveiled the semifinalists for the 2025 Women’s Fast Pitch competition, a pivotal event highlighting the talents of women founders across the United States. This year marks the 12th Annual Women’s Fast Pitch, serving as a key platform for emerging female leaders to showcase their groundbreaking ideas and solutions. Five regional winners along with one wildcard entry will gather at the Women’s Venture Summit, happening in San Diego from September 23 to 25, 2025, to vie for an impressive prize pool exceeding $50,000 in cash, investment, and invaluable support services.
The competition has become a cornerstone of the Women’s Venture Summit, fostering an environment that enhances visibility, funding opportunities, and support for female entrepreneurs. Since its inception, the summit has facilitated over $200 million in funding towards women-led ventures, demonstrating the commitment to bridging the gap between brilliant women founders and potential investors.
This year's competitive prize package includes various financial rewards and services aimed at boosting women-led startups:
The semifinalists for the 2025 Women’s Fast Pitch have shown exceptional promise with their innovative solutions that cater to real-world needs, and they include:
1. LymeAlert (Cambridge, MA) - Founded by Erin Dawmicki, this startup offers the first at-home tick testing kit that delivers results in under 20 minutes. It empowers quick decision-making regarding Lyme disease exposure, particularly benefiting pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts.
2. CurieDx (Baltimore, MD) - Therese Canares leads this startup, which transforms smartphones into diagnostic tools for common conditions like strep throat and pink eye. By enhancing telehealth capabilities, CurieDx aims to keep patients at home and reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
3. Impacks (St. Cloud, MN) - Clare Richards established this company to streamline back-to-school shopping through customizable supply kits. With a vast network of over 275 school partnerships, Impacks is reshaping how families and schools manage supplies while contributing to local communities.
4. Rely (Berkeley, CA) - Founded by Ashley Keyes, Rely is innovating the rental market with a digital 'renter passport' and AI-driven tools for landlords. This approach aims to increase transparency, reduce eviction rates, and prevent fraud, ultimately saving valuable time and resources for both renters and landlords.
5. PureWild Co. (Ojai, CA) - Led by Cindy Convery, PureWild focuses on healthy aging with high-quality marine collagen products tailored for women above 40 and adults over 50, addressing the common loss of natural collagen in these demographics.
Wildcard Entry: MVI Medical (San Diego, CA) - Founded by Andrea Munoz, MVI Medical is revolutionizing women's healthcare with the Rosa Spec™, a patented, single-use pelvic examination device. Designed to improve comfort and visualization during exams, this product reflects a significant advance in medical practices, especially for female patients.
Flossie Hall, CEO of the Stella Foundation, expressed excitement about this year’s competitors: "The women selected for this year's Fast Pitch are pushing boundaries and solving real-world problems with vision, grit, and innovation. We're honored to give them this platform, and excited to see how they continue to grow, lead, and inspire."
The Women’s Venture Summit not only features the highly anticipated pitch competition, but it also includes immersive workshops and expert panels designed to empower female founders and foster connections with investors. With initiatives like these, the Stella Foundation is dedicated to advancing women's roles in the entrepreneurial landscape, ensuring their ideas receive the attention and support they deserve. For more information on the Women’s Venture Summit and to secure tickets, visit www.womensventuresummit.org.
Since its inception in 2012, the Stella Foundation has worked tirelessly to connect women entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities, supporting their journey from idea to reality. For further insights into the Stella Foundation's initiatives and support programs, visit https://stella.co.
The competition has become a cornerstone of the Women’s Venture Summit, fostering an environment that enhances visibility, funding opportunities, and support for female entrepreneurs. Since its inception, the summit has facilitated over $200 million in funding towards women-led ventures, demonstrating the commitment to bridging the gap between brilliant women founders and potential investors.
This year's competitive prize package includes various financial rewards and services aimed at boosting women-led startups:
- - A minimum grant of $5,000 from the Stella Foundation.
- - A minimum investment of $10,000 courtesy of She Invests.
- - In-kind legal services valued at $25,000 provided by Holland & Knight LLP.
- - Over $10,000 dedicated to founder support services covering technology, design, operations, media, and more.
The semifinalists for the 2025 Women’s Fast Pitch have shown exceptional promise with their innovative solutions that cater to real-world needs, and they include:
1. LymeAlert (Cambridge, MA) - Founded by Erin Dawmicki, this startup offers the first at-home tick testing kit that delivers results in under 20 minutes. It empowers quick decision-making regarding Lyme disease exposure, particularly benefiting pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts.
2. CurieDx (Baltimore, MD) - Therese Canares leads this startup, which transforms smartphones into diagnostic tools for common conditions like strep throat and pink eye. By enhancing telehealth capabilities, CurieDx aims to keep patients at home and reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
3. Impacks (St. Cloud, MN) - Clare Richards established this company to streamline back-to-school shopping through customizable supply kits. With a vast network of over 275 school partnerships, Impacks is reshaping how families and schools manage supplies while contributing to local communities.
4. Rely (Berkeley, CA) - Founded by Ashley Keyes, Rely is innovating the rental market with a digital 'renter passport' and AI-driven tools for landlords. This approach aims to increase transparency, reduce eviction rates, and prevent fraud, ultimately saving valuable time and resources for both renters and landlords.
5. PureWild Co. (Ojai, CA) - Led by Cindy Convery, PureWild focuses on healthy aging with high-quality marine collagen products tailored for women above 40 and adults over 50, addressing the common loss of natural collagen in these demographics.
Wildcard Entry: MVI Medical (San Diego, CA) - Founded by Andrea Munoz, MVI Medical is revolutionizing women's healthcare with the Rosa Spec™, a patented, single-use pelvic examination device. Designed to improve comfort and visualization during exams, this product reflects a significant advance in medical practices, especially for female patients.
Flossie Hall, CEO of the Stella Foundation, expressed excitement about this year’s competitors: "The women selected for this year's Fast Pitch are pushing boundaries and solving real-world problems with vision, grit, and innovation. We're honored to give them this platform, and excited to see how they continue to grow, lead, and inspire."
The Women’s Venture Summit not only features the highly anticipated pitch competition, but it also includes immersive workshops and expert panels designed to empower female founders and foster connections with investors. With initiatives like these, the Stella Foundation is dedicated to advancing women's roles in the entrepreneurial landscape, ensuring their ideas receive the attention and support they deserve. For more information on the Women’s Venture Summit and to secure tickets, visit www.womensventuresummit.org.
Since its inception in 2012, the Stella Foundation has worked tirelessly to connect women entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities, supporting their journey from idea to reality. For further insights into the Stella Foundation's initiatives and support programs, visit https://stella.co.
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