Fort Worth biotech founder Elyse Stoltz Dickerson got her start by winning a pitch competition. Now the co-founder and CEO of EOSERA is “paying it forward.” A new annual pitch competition will give other smart and innovative founders from female-led, Texas-based companies that same opportunity.
The inaugural EmpowHERment pitch competition—hosted by EOSERA, along with partners Simmons Bank, Satori Capital, Fort Worth Report, Tech Fort Worth, and UNT Health Science Center—will be held during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.
“We’re in search of a female-led Texas based innovative company with the chops to make millions,” said Dickerson in a video announcement. “The prize is $10,000.”
Three finalists will be picked to pitch to a live audience, and qualified judges will pick one winner. Applications to pitch will close on September 16.
“This competition is a way for EOSERA to pay it forward to a community who gave so much to us. In this network, there are so many resources available for entrepreneurs that a lot of people don’t know about,” Dickerson said in a statement. “We hope, during Global Entrepreneurship Week, that entrepreneurs—especially female entrepreneurs—see how supportive our community is.”
Apply to pitch
“Please, apply if you qualify,” Dickerson said. “Show us your personality, and why you are passionate about your business.”
The pitch competition application consists of basic information about your business, including five “essay questions” relating to your business, and a 60-second video submission. Judges want to know about your business and what inspired you to start it.
“Bring your A game,” the EOSERA CEO advises.
Finalists will be announced on October 14, and the pitch is on November 17.
Walking the talk
Elyse Stoltz Dickerson
As a mentor and new Tech FW board member, Dickerson has a track record of giving back. After all, she’s “been there”—and the hard work has paid off. In 2015, Dickerson and co-founder Joe Griffin took a major risk to leave the world of big pharma and start a company on their own. As a startup, it won the Comerica Pitch Competition and $50,000 way back in 2015, and began manufacturing and scaling out of TechFW’s building. Its first product hit shelves in 8,000-plus CVS stores, and in 2021 Eosera made the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing list. This year, Dickerson was named as a finalist of EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Central Plains Award.
Today, the company has around 40 employees, a new facility to come, expanded national distribution to some 28,000 stores, and a string of product extensions like EAR VIEW MD and EARWAX PET.
Go here for more information.
On July 16, 2022, the story was updated to include EOSERA’s current employee and store count.
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