Pompea EntreprenHER

An EmpowHERing Women’s Business Pitch Competition

Thursday, April 20, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Pompea College of Business, Orange, CT

The Pompea EntreprenHER is a Women’s business pitch competition that provides a platform for Women Entrepreneurs to showcase their business, passion, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. EntreprenHER is more than just a pitch competition. The goals of EntreprenHER are to:

  • Empower Women
  • Help Female Founders improve their professional skills, build connections and network with investors
  • Assist these women led businesses with gaining brand exposure
  • Connect female entrepreneurs with mentors and investors
  • Unleash the growth potential of women entrepreneurs
  • Support the growth and success of women-led small businesses

Think of the Pompea EntreprenHER as providing Female Founders the fuel to fly!

Why participate in EntreprenHER?

  • Share your inspirational entrepreneurial journey and showcase the SUPERWOMAN you are!
  • Walk away with potential access to funds, scholarships, accelerators and more
  • Showcase the innovation and scalability of your business models
  • Network with potential investors and collaborators
  • An opportunity for creating awareness and expanding brand exposure. A platform to get your business name out there!
  • Networking opportunities and mentorship from the University of New Haven’s Women’s Leadership Council
ELIGIBILITY
  • The Pompea EntreprenHER pitch competition is not limited to any specific industries
  • EntreprenHER is open to ALL women entrepreneurs with businesses in Connecticut, whether they’re a current UNewHaven student, alumni, or not
  • Applicants must be a start-up business led by a female CEO or be a female-founded/co-founded business with at least 50% of the founders being female or that self-identify as female
  • The business must be located within the state of Connecticut
  • The business should be at least at the startup phase or very close to launch

How EntreprenHER Works
  • The Women’s Leadership Council will be reviewing all applications that are submitted
  • Applications will be reviewed and the top 4 will be selected based on the following:
Scorecard
Problem Identification
Feasibility (can it be done?)
Desirability (does it satisfy customers’ needs/wants)
Sustainability (long term success)
Business Phase (ideation, developing, advanced business phase)
Financial Viability (is it profitable)
Geographical location (vested in local community in Connecticut)


Four Female Founders will be selected from the pool of applicants to pitch their business on competition night on April 20th!


The Pitch
  • You will have 3-5 mins to pitch your business to a panel of judges on April 20th
  • You will present your pitch live in a power point format
  • The judges will ask you questions along with a Q&A from the audience
  • Judging will take place the night of and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner will be announced!


The Prize

Enter to win CASH PRIZES and MENTORSHIP from our Faculty and those in the Profession.


MEET THE JUDGES
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Cristina Ackas

VP, Inclusion Equity & Belonging
Draft Kings

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Amy Keach, PMP®, EMBA

Senior Project Manager (she/her)
Yale University, Advancement Technology – ITS Enterprise Applications
Principal, Amy Keach Consulting

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Kristina Palazzo

Tax Partner, PwC
Pompea College of Business Advisory Board Member

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Chandra Roxanne

Managing Director, Astia Edge

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Dolores Ennico '82 MBA, '17 Hon.

Currently Principal of Canterbury Consulting
Independent Director of RBC Bearings (CT corporation)
University of New Haven Board of Governors Member

What Have the Pompea Women been up to?

News item

Sport Management Students Develop Marketing Plans for Professional Sports Team

As part of a unique hands-on project, students in a “Sport Marketing” class at the University created a marketing plan for the Connecticut Sun and had the opportunity to present their plans to a group of leaders of the WNBA team.

News item

Students, Alumni Discuss Importance of Mentorship and Connection

As part of a recent panel event, students and alumni shared with the University community their own experiences as mentors and mentees. They discussed two unique new mentorship programs for Pompea College of Business students that enable them to connect and learn from each other as well as PCOB grads.

News item

Pompea College of Business Hosts Competition for Women Entrepreneurs

The second annual EntreprenHER event, which will take place on Thursday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m. at the University’s Orange Campus, will bring together women entrepreneurs from across Connecticut and members of the University community. It will enable finalists to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges and create networking opportunities for students.

News item

Chargers, Local Students Come Together to Support Individuals Facing Homelessness

Gabriela Garcia-Perez ’24, the founding director for the Community Integration Mentoring Program, recently hosted an event in New Haven that brought students of diverse backgrounds together to create care bags for individuals facing homelessness.

Co-Sponsors

The Pompea College of Business
Brian Kench

Brian Kench Ph.D.
Dean, Pompea College of Business

Women's Leadership Council
Josephine Moran

Josephine Moran
President of JM Fit for Life

Youth Entrepreneurs CT
youth Entrepreneurs Logo

EntreprenHER Committee Members
Candice Deal

Candice Deal, Ph.D.
Associate Dean

Brian Marks, J.D., Ph.D.

Brian Marks, J.D., Ph.D.
Executive Director, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program

Laquita Joyner-McGraw, Ph.D.

Laquita Joyner-McGraw, Ph.D.
Founder/Executive Director/ Youth Entrepreneurs Inc.

Mike Maguire

Mike Maguire
Chair of Entrepreneurship Program / Adjunct Professor in Marketing

Elizabeth Ruiz

Elizabeth Ruiz

Emily Bogdanowicz

Emily Bogdanowicz

Yashvi Fadia

Yashvi Fadia

Kiana White

Kiana White

Abigail Murphy

Abigail Murphy

Women in Business Club of the Pompea College of Business

EBOARD

Kiana White

Kiana White
President

Abigail Murphy

Abigail Murphy
Vice President

Emily Bogdanowicz

Emily Bogdanowicz
Secretary/Executive Assistant

Ramya Vemuri

Ramya Vemuri
Executive Representative

Samiya Yaqubi

Samiya Yaqubi
Director of Finance

Yashvi Fadia

Yashvi Fadia
Director of Marketing & Communications

Abigail Fleisig

Abigail Fleisig
DEI Committee Head

Megan Ringuette

Megan Ringuette
Committee Head, Member Engagement

FACULTY ADVISORS

Candice Deal

Candice Deal, Ph.D.
Associate Dean