Grace Hopper Celebration will feature the annual PitcHER™ competition, offering an impressive $100,000 in funding. Candidate applications open today for the highly anticipated contest.
Sacramento, Calif. (March 11, 2024) — AnitaB.org, the global nonprofit championing intersectional gender equity and pay parity in tech, is excited to announce the 2024 PitcHER™ pitch competition. Taking place at Grace Hopper Celebration 2024 (GHC 24), October 8–11, the contest brings together women and non-binary entrepreneurs to offer support, encouragement, and new funding opportunities. This year, AnitaB.org has partnered with Philly Startup Leaders, the largest and most active community of startup entrepreneurs in Philadelphia — the host city of GHC 24. Applications from candidates are now open.
“In an era where women and non-binary entrepreneurs continue to face significant barriers, the 2024 PitcHER competition is a pivotal step toward equity,” said Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org. “In partnership with Philly Startup Leaders and set against the inspiring backdrop of Grace Hopper Celebration, we’re not just launching a competition — we’re igniting change. This initiative shines a light on the brilliant talent often left in the shadows, aiming to bridge the vast funding gap in tech. Together, we can create a tech industry fueled by the innovation inherent in diversity.”
Philly Startup Leaders’ Isabelle Kent, CEO, and Gloria Bell, Board Member, expressed their excitement in a joint statement:
“Philly Startup Leaders — also known as PSL — was inspired by the vision of AnitaB.org to incorporate the local entrepreneurship community into this year’s PitcHER competition, and we are honored to be collaborating with an organization that we admire and whose mission we believe in. PSL is looking forward to highlighting the people and innovation in our community as we support AnitaB.org with executing an encouraging, exciting, and successful PitcHER 2024.”
Data indicates that women founders in tech receive significantly less funding than other gendered entrepreneurs. According to GreenBiz, only 7% of US climate tech venture capital funding went to female founders in 2023. It’s what makes PitcHER such a crucial platform — one dedicated to bringing more attention to the gender funding gap and actively working toward closing it.
For GHC 24, AnitaB.org is looking for entrepreneurs from all industries who are leading early-stage technology startups. The top 10 finalists will deliver three-to-five-minute pitches in hopes of being one of three winners to earn a share of $100,000 in funding. Each finalist will receive complimentary registration to attend GHC.
PitcHER timeline of events
- Candidate application opens today! Application link here
- Candidate application closes April 4, 2024, 5 pm PT
- Semifinalist candidates are expected to be announced on April 22, 2024, and will receive group coaching by Philly Startup Leaders
- Finalists are announced on May 29, 2024, and invited to pitch at GHC 24
- PitcHER competition and awards ceremony at GHC 24 on October 8–11, 2024
Learn more about the AnitaB.org 2024 PitcHER competition by visiting: http://ghc.anitab.org/pitcher/
About AnitaB.org
At AnitaB.org, a global nonprofit organization, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the societies for whom they build it. We connect, inspire, and guide women and non-binary individuals in technical fields, as well as organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative.
Our social enterprise supports women in technical fields, the organizations that employ them, and the academic institutions that train future generations. A full roster of programs helps women grow, learn, and develop their highest potential.
About Philly Startup Leaders (PSL)
Philly Startup Leaders is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing and advancing the startup ecosystem in the Greater Philadelphia region. For over 15 years, PSL has provided resources, mentorship, accelerators, coaching, and networking opportunities to support local startups and entrepreneurs. PSL’s mission is to increase the number of entrepreneurs in Philadelphia, grow the number of startups positively impacted by the community, help create a positive perception of Philadelphia’s startup ecosystem, and promote equitable economic development through entrepreneurship.
For more information or press inquiries, contact engage@phillystartupleaders.org.
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