WomanUp & Pitch 2024 Winners and Finalists
Our 2024 WomanUp & Pitch finalists worked on their business plans and pitches to compete for the $10,000 first-place prize, $5,000 second-place prize and $2,500 third-place prize in four distinct competitions held in March 2024.
Thanks to our sponsor Consumers Energy Foundation, we awarded $140,000 in cash prizes to local businesses to help grow their entrepreneurial dreams, improve their communities and invest in our state. Find out more about our WomanUp & Pitch competitions, including eligibility requirements.
Check out our amazing 2024 finalists and winners below.
WomanUp & Pitch Statewide Food Winners and Finalists – 2024
First Place – Startup Business
Renata Fernandez Dominguez and Bek Ostosh, Madre Masa & Tortillas
Madre Masa & Tortillas produce local, organic, nixtamalized, stone-ground corn masa and tortillas. Our products are freshly made using Michigan heirloom whole corn kernels.
First Place – Established Business
Christina Coden, Red Hots Chili
Red Hots Chili started in 1921 as a family-owned brick and mortar Coney Island located in Highland Park. Knowing my parents would retire, I began figuring out how to package and sell the chili. In July 2021 the Coney Island closed, and Red Hots Chili made its debut in grocery stores.
Second Place – Startup Business
Gabrielle Reed, Detroit Berry Company
Detroit Berry Company creates handmade chocolate-covered treats specializing in chocolate-covered strawberries. We don’t just create treats, we cultivate memorable experiences that bring people together one berry at a time.
Second Place – Established Business
Lisa Session, DA BOMB TACO
DA BOMB TACO features explosively flavorful tacos and more! Our brand combines authentic Mexican flavors with expert craftsmanship and genuine hospitality to provide an experience that is guaranteed to blow you away!
Third Place – Startup Business
Anna June, Super Cookie
Founded in Michigan in 2023, Super Cookie offers premium, healthy cookies targeting health-conscious shoppers, families and snack lovers. My unique product caters to three emerging trends: less sugar, plant-based, and allergen-free, filling a huge market gap.
Third Place – Established Business
Shinia Malloy, Plenti Pastas Plus More
Plenti Pastas Plus More delivers delicious and innovative pasta dishes, crafted with high quality ingredients plus MORE! We offer a variety of food services including full-service catering, private chef experiences, food by the pan and individual meals.
Finalist – Startup Business
Dymond Hill, DK Sweet Shop
DK Sweet Shop crafts soul-satisfying sweets, putting a unique spin on your favorite desserts. We offer traditional favorites like cupcakes, cakes and banana pudding plus unique creations, like our best-selling dessert egg rolls.
Finalist – Startup Business
Charisse Mills, Modern Maison Co.
Modern Maison Co. provides artisan and aesthetic charcuterie boxes and grazing tables for corporate clients and event planners in the Metro Detroit region.
Finalist – Established Business
Maneeka Beasley, Cakes By the Jar
Cakes By the Jar offers single serving cake jars to save time, money and reduce waste. Our goal is to provide a convenient dessert solution for an on-a-go lifestyle. We offer four signature flavors Straw buh-buh berry Shortcake, Chocolate High Toffee-mel, Lemon Crunch Cake, and Vanilla Milkshake and a new flavor every quarter.
WomanUp & Pitch 2024 Statewide Food Competition Photo Gallery
WomanUp & Pitch Southeast Michigan Winners and Finalists – 2024
First Place – Startup Business
Tiff and Riss Dezort, Eastside Roasterz
Eastside Roasterz is a coffee roaster and soon-to-be coffee shop based in Detroit! While we currently supply freshly-roasted specialty coffees and Detroit-inspired clothing to consumers and businesses throughout the U.S., we will be opening East English Village’s only coffee shop in Summer 2024.
First Place – Established Business
Shayla N. Johnson, Scarlet Crane
Scarlet Crane is a dedicated micro-batch textile printing house in Detroit that specializes in sustainable hand-printed fabrics and creates home décor products and lifestyle accessories. We offer a variety of DIY print making workshops along with our handmade goods. We believe strongly in building community and sharing the love of screen-printing.
Second Place – Startup Business
Zienethe “Zina” Adewole, The Damage Zone
The Damage Zone will be Detroit’s first premier rage/smash room offering an alternative therapy for emotionally reactive adults and children. The Damage Zone allows the individual the opportunity to rage out destructively in a controlled, safe, and nonjudgmental environment.
Second Place – Established Business
Allison Jordan, FDN-P, Better Belly Therapies
Better Belly Therapies heals women from gut health issues like bloating, constipation, acid reflux and IBS. The Better Belly Method also helps whole body health including hormone, skin, sinuses, sleep, focus, memory, and mental health.
Third Place – Startup Business
Ayesha Qureshi, Cultured Cuties
Cultured Cuties promotes diversity and inclusivity through our line of peelable magnetic dolls, enabling kids to explore different cultures while indulging in imaginative play. Each doll represents a different country with culturally-appropriate outfits and accessories, a recipe card to learn about the food from that country and a passport filled with fun facts.
Third Place – Established Business
Satara Holliday, First Love Tours
First Love Tours is a Detroit-based motor coach company specializing in state-to-state and local travel for family, community and corporate groups.
Finalist – Startup Business
Christian Moon, Mom Wellness Cave
The Mom Wellness Cave is a Wellness Center that supports moms in their motherhood journey through wellness products, self care and mental health services and interactive workshops.
Finalist – Startup Business
Tamara Lincoln, Lincoln Stone Paper
Lincoln Stone Paper is a sustainable stationery company with a focus on stone paper notebooks, greeting cards and sketchbooks. We strive to preserve the Earth as well as preserving people’s thoughts to help push people forward with mental health.
Finalist – Established Business
Laura Luchtman, L Sharp Productions
L Sharp Productions is a full-service entertainment company that offers karaoke, bar games and DJ services for all occasions.
Finalist – Established Business
Roniesha Love, R Love Extensions
R Love Extensions offers high-quality 100% single-donor human hair wigs, bundles, extensions, and all-natural haircare products. Our mission is to fight alopecia and provide support to our customers throughout their hair journey.
Watch the 2024 Southeast Michigan WomanUp & Pitch competition
WomanUp & Pitch Mid-Michigan Winners and Finalists – 2024
First Place – Startup Business
Laurisa Ankley, GradPhinDer
GradPhinder is an all-inclusive recruitment platform designed to effectively match biomedical Ph.D. programs with outstanding applicants. GradPhinder will take the guess work out of the application process while bringing equity and accessibility to STEM higher education.
First Place – Startup Business
Ugbaad Keynan, Take Flight Financial Coaching
Take Flight is an idea for a financial coaching app that helps users understand their relationship with money and develop better financial habits.
First Place – Established Business
Tiffany Blackman, Bread & Basket Marketplace
Bread & Basket Marketplace is a boutique-style public marketplace offering makers, creatives and curators affordable access to the local retail market, year-round, in a centrally-located retail space.
First Place – Established Business
Kristina Lakey, The Goblin King Players
The Goblin King Players weave cinematic magic onstage through shadowcasting, transforming beloved films into live, interactive experiences. We also delve into immersive events, offering unique adventures for all ages.
Second Place – Startup Business
Kim Gamez, Sober(ish)
Sober(ish) is the only marketplace for the sober-curious who want to discover fun alcohol alternatives, including buzz without the booze options. It features Federally-legal products available to consumers 21 years and older across the United States.
Second Place – Established Business
Dr. Cassie Briggs, Success in Science Career Coaching
Success in Science Career Coaching uniquely blends science expertise with certified coach training to support students and early career professionals in science and medicine.
Finalist – Startup Business
Suzanne R. Jones, Women M.O.V.E.
Women M.O.V.E. (Mission Opportunity Vision Exceptional Behaviors) empowers women ready to design the next phase of their lives by discovering their mission and life purpose.
Finalist – Established Business
Felicia Carter, Shorties Sweets Eats and Treats
Catering and events company with a custom food truck. Offering freshly prepared food desserts and beverages that have been crafted with love.
Finalist – Established Business
Vanessa Frias, Willowbrook Farms
We offer pasture raised meats that are fed non GMO and antibiotic-free. We also sell pasture-raised pet treats. In addition, we host agritourism and agri-educational experiences here on the farm.
Watch the 2024 Mid-Michigan WomanUp & Pitch competition
WomanUp & Pitch West Michigan Winners and Finalists – 2024
First Place – Startup Business
Danielle Fogel, Spark & Logic
Spark & Logic helps real estate brokerages provide educational, productive and engaging sales meetings for their agents. Our subscription-based service includes ready-to-use videos that walk step-by-step through a complete meeting, as well as resources for building customized meetings.
First Place – Established Business
Evvia Marshall, Creative Canine Pet Services
Creative Canine Pet Services offers doggy daycare, overnight boarding, grooming and dog walking services to the greater Grand Rapids area.
Second Place – Startup Business
Katie Burdett, Farmette
Farmette is a small farm, marketplace, bakery and cafe located in New Buffalo.
Second Place – Established Business
Megan Ellison, Evolve Dance Studio
Evolve Dance Studio specializes in teaching tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary dance to ages 3-18.
Third Place – Startup Business
Bertina Polk, My Little Love Bugs Childcare
My Little Love Bugs Childcare provides quality childcare with a strong emphasis on African American culture
Third Place – Established Business
Meg Hamilton, Her Daily Bread
Her Daily Bread is a Grand Rapids-based micro-bakery and art studio that specializes in custom hand-crafted sugar cookies. We offer custom orders by the dozen, wholesale to retailers, individual cookies at markets/festivals, and online pre-sales.
Finalist – Startup Business
Terrie Morrow, Ahh! Venture Cruise
Located in the port of Holland, and cruising out to Lake Michigan, Ahh! Venture Cruise offers a unique top-notch boating experience, big lake adventure, refreshment and restoration of the mind, body and soul!
Finalist – Startup Business
Alisa Cardenas, Howl at the Moon Sauna Co.
Howl at the Moon Sauna Co. is the first-ever mobile sauna and cold plunge rental company in West Michigan. We cater to both private and public events, offering private overnight rentals, community pop-up sauna sessions and event rentals.
Finalist – Established Business
Elizabeth Huff, Huff and Bloom Floral Co.
Huff and Bloom Floral Co. is a boutique floral design company. We offer one-of-a-kind garden-style bouquets and bespoke wedding floral design services in Grand Rapids.
