S.H.E. Pitch, which recently completed its fourth year, is a competition for local female entrepreneurs in both the “idea stage” and “growth stage.” The event, hosted by the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce with sponsorship by The City of Frederick, offers participants an opportunity to present their business ventures in a shark-tank style event to win substantial cash prizes, gain publicity, and forge new networking connections.
Year after year the program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.
Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Kelly Kuzma to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’:
JoNa’s Outdoor Furniture Co.
2022 GROWTH STAGE WINNER
How has your business grown or changed since SHE Pitch?
Since participating in the SHE Pitch competition in 2022, we've had the opportunity to open our first physical location (a 4,000 sqft showroom) and expand our customer reach and community involvement. This was a huge step for our family business!
What’s next for your business?
GROWTH! With the opening of our first location in 2024 (after 6 years operating on in-person consults and working from a home office) we see so many growth opportunities on the horizon! We're excited to reach a wider audience, hire employees, and share our high quality furniture, business values, and brand with more of our community.
Looking back, what was the most valuable take away from your SHE Pitch experience?
The SHE Pitch experience was incredibly challenging in all the right ways. The biggest value for me was in the preparation...it forced me to think of my business goals, marketing strategy, and finances in a much deeper way and be able to express that to an audience both verbally (Pitch) and in writing (Investment Summary).
Advice to fellow entrepreneurs
Have a plan for where you want your business to go, but understand that the road will not be easy and the path might not be straight! If you truly believe your product or service will benefit others...keep going, put in the time and work, and don't be afraid to do thing outside of your comfort zone (i.e. SHE Pitch🙂).
Are you thinking about starting or growing a business?
Contact The City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov to learn more about the resources that can help!