The Live Pitch is the grand finale of the Great Social Enterprise Pitch—the culmination of months of professional development, idea incubation and message refining. Held in front of a sold-out live audience and a panel of judges, the top five social enterprise ideas present a five minute pitch, receiving a score based on presentation, content, potential impact, and financial sustainability. Winners receive thousands of dollars in cash and pro-bono prizes! In 2017, the Live Pitch will be held on October 6th, at the Ware Center in Downtown Lancaster.
The 2016 Great Social Enterprise Pitch Winners were:
First Place
Melanin Essentials — $7,500 Cash Prize and $11,345 in pro-bono services
Second Place
Bootcamp 900 — $5,000 Cash Prize and $6,775 in pro-bono services
Third Place
Five Loaves Food Company — $2,500 Cash Prize and $3,075 in pro-bono services
Fourth Place
Sophie Stargazer Boutique — $1,000 Cash Prize and $1,775 in pro-bono services
Fifth Place
WIN Workplace Solutions — $500 Cash Prize and $425 in pro-bono services
Audience Vote
Bootcamp 900 — Audience donations of $640
Pitch Judges included:
- Willonda McCloud – Brightside Opportunities Center
- Crystal Weaver – Prince Street Café
- Bob Krasne – LNP
- Jennie Groff – The Stroopie Company
- Carlos Graupera – Spanish American Civic Association
In addition to the pitches from the five finalists, this event also featured a presentation from Matt Stinchcomb, Executive Director of Etsy.org.
Matt is the Executive Director of etsy.org. Previously, he was the VP, Values, and Impact at Etsy.com. In that role he oversaw the stewardship of the company’s mission, and worked to give all employees the means and the desire to maximize the benefit their work has on people and the planet. In 2013, he was named a GOOD Magazine ‘Figure of Progress’. The next year he was named as one of the Purpose Economy 100. In 2016, Matt was selected as a BALLE Local Economy Fellow. Matt also serves on the Board of Directors for the Schumacher Center for New Economics, the Center for a New American Dream, and Naropa University. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, Benedikta, and their sons, Francis and Lewie.
