Pitch Hamburg's second cohort makes case for growing businesses (2024)

One business offered paid first month of rent by startup founder serving as judge

When Pitch Hamburg held its second annual competition last week, it brought out an impressive contingent of judges eager to be a part of the growing suburban business incubator.

But those judges wound up being just as impressed with the competition’s latest cohort, which consisted of five businesses that were all already beyond the idea phase.

One of the judges was so blown away by a business competing in the Community Pitch Event that he made the founder a surprising and tremendously helpful offer.

Tye Caldwell, the co-founder and chief strategy officer at past 43North winner ShearShare, offered to pay the first month of rent for Tina Royal when she finds a home for her beauty enhancements business TinasLocs.

“It’s incredible to see that. The judges can pick up on the energy,” said Annamaria Masucci, executive director of Pitch Hamburg.

“This community of entrepreneurs is amazing,” she added. “Just to see them really supporting newer ones coming in is just so incredible and inspiring.”

TinasLocs, which helps clients manage their textured hair, was one of the three winners at the recent competition held at Hilbert College. Loaded potato eatery Pudgy Potatoes, founded by Jeanetta Sullivan, and meal prep service Jess in the Kitchn, founded by Jess Betzig, also earned $5,000 to support their businesses' continued development.

Also serving as judges were Jennifer Kuhn of Hamburg Overhead Door; Mercedes Wilson of Sadie’s Relish; Megan Kelly, startup success manager at the University at Buffalo Cultivator; and Lauren Gibson of Rise Fitness Studio in Hamburg.

The business founders were able to use rehearsals the day prior to the competition as an opportunity to fine-tune their presentations and be more comfortable on the stage, Masucci said. It shined through in the pitches, she added.

“It’s all about the people behind the businesses,” Masucci said. “It was cool to see them pitch and really let their personalities come through.”

Masucci will be meeting with the three competition winners to talk about using the incubator space on Main Street in Hamburg to sell and market their items. And she will be having that conversation with Royal about finding a retail space that includes a month of paid rent.

“It doesn’t end when the competition is done,” Masucci said. “There are still things that they want to work on. I told them all that this is a community now and you’ll always have us here.”

Since these were all existing businesses, Masucci said the focus was on helping find their next step, which included creating content on social media to help them with marketing.

“They needed different things than the businesses last year did, so we brainstormed about what they needed most and then worked together to make sure that they were getting that out of this experience,” she said.

With three of the five businesses in the cohort being food-based entities, the pitch event also featured a food and networking hour held before the competition began. Two of the businesses brought some samples to help market their products.

And, for a second straight year at the event, fifth graders from Charlotte Avenue Elementary School in Hamburg made pitches in front of the audience at Hilbert for the businesses they created over the past few months while the judges deliberated.

“They’re always the biggest hit,” Masucci said. “People love them. It was incredible to see. It really ties the whole community feel we’re trying to create all together.”

Buffalo women entrepreneurs take top spots in pitch competition

Three entrepreneurs from Buffalo took the top spots in the She Means Business pitch competition and received a total of $10,000 in prize money to help take their minority- and women-owned businesses to the next level.

Janna Willoughby-Lohr took first place in the competition last month and won $5,000 for her business Papercraft Miracles, a sustainable handmade stationery and paper art business that has been in operation for 18 years.

Jess Kent placed second and won $3,000 for Clark Mediation, a confidential negotiation and mediation services provider in operation for three years.

Finishing third was Kara Oliver-Pérez of Buffalo, who won $2,000 for Native Pens Collaborative Publishing, a children’s book publishing, consulting and coaching company centered around diverse storytelling and increasing access to culturally relevant literature.

The competition, which was presented by the Enterprise Center at PathStone with support from Citizens Bank, included a seven-week training program designed to empower women entrepreneurs.

For four years, the competition has also helped break down the financial barriers faced by minority entrepreneurs, said Javier E. Zapata, president and executive director of the Enterprise Center at PathStone.

“Empowering the participants of the She Means Business pitch competition by providing access to resources and training helps propel early stage businesses to new heights,” Zapata said.

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The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips tobuffalonext@buffnews.comor reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.