Sep. 19—Entrepreneurs from across the region are invited to apply to participate in a new pitch event — the LionCage Pitch Competition.
The LionCage Pitch competition supports entrepreneurs and innovators by giving them a chance to give pitch presentations about their businesses across four categories: Early Stage Startup, Experienced Startup, Student Startup and Social Impact Initiative.
This new, annual event is being organized by Invent Penn State LaunchBoxes at Brandywine and Great Valley and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n), an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).
A winner in each category will be named, with each category winner receiving an award of $5,000. An additional $10,000 “best in show” award will also be presented to one of the participants, according to a press release.
The competition is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Penn State Great Valley in Malvern. The one-day gathering offers exposure, connections and access for creators and innovators who are transforming their industries and our society, according to a press release.
“LionCage is a targeted opportunity for startups of all levels to showcase their ideas with an audience of highly engaged supporters, advisors and investors across southeastern Pennsylvania’s innovation ecosystem,” Matt Cabrey, director of the Chester County Economic Development Council’s i2n initiative, said in a statement. The i2n initiative helps startups transform their ideas from concept to commercialization.
“Helping startups across Pennsylvania’s communities is exactly what Invent Penn State LaunchBoxes do every day, and we are excited to develop and deliver LionCage to support entrepreneurs while providing resources to current and aspiring businesses in our local neighborhoods,” Tony Mattei, director of entrepreneurship at the Penn State Brandywine LaunchBox, said in a statement.
To become a competitor in the event, there is an application process. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, Sept. 30, and are available by visiting https://lioncage.greatvalleylaunchbox.com/lioncage-application/.
The application asks each entrepreneur for information about themselves, how active they are in the business, information about and a description of the business, the category they plan to compete in, and whether they have previously received any funding. In addition, each applicant is asked to upload a 90 second video introducing the business. The contest is open to qualified and accepted applicants 13 years or older.
Applicants will be notified if they are accepted into the competition on Oct. 8, and registration will begin Oct. 15. Two coaching sessions will also be offered to competition participants.
LionCage’s Social Impact Initiative category is presented in partnership with United Way of Chester County to showcase companies and projects that are focused on solving societal challenges while also developing a successful business, according to the release.
“We want to encourage and celebrate ideas that are working toward improving societal issues alongside ideas that are focused on financial returns and on solving business challenges, too,” Kelly Cockshaw, director of leadership & innovation with the United Way of Chester County, said in a statement. “It’s an important distinction, and we are proud to help deliver on this vision.”