A woman-owned, Milwaukee online media startup focused on positive news won the top prize at the Women's Entrepreneurship Week Milwaukee virtual pitch competition on Thursday night.
Founded by Nyesha Stone, Carvd N Stone was voted by a panel of judges to receive $5,000 in cash in addition to marketing and business strategy consulting, and a one-year membership to Scale Up Milwaukee, an initiative under the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Carved N Stone, which also offers public relation services and journalism-industry education, was one of six women founders selected to pitch in the competition.
Judges for the competition included Jennifer Bartolotta of Bartolotta & Associates, The Tandem restaurant owner and chef Caitlin Cullen, and Nadiyah Johnson, founder and CEO of Milwaukee software and consulting company Jet Constellations.
The second-place prize was awarded to Elizabeth Hengel, the owner of Wild Wisco Waters, a canoe and kayak rental business for recreational trips on the Wisconsin River. The business also offers environment education. Hengel will receive $2,000 cash, one-year membership to The Business Co-working Lounge, and marketing and business strategy consulting.
Jamie Andrzejewski, owner of Nourish Natural Products, a person product and wellness company that sells products in over 30 retail locations in Wisconsin and Illinois, was voted by viewers as the audience favorite. Andrzejewski receives cash from ticket proceeds, with totaled just over $1,000, one month free of co-working space and online coaching.
Other company founders to pitch during the event were Layne Cozzolino, the owner of Siren Shrub Company, a business that makes non-alcoholic canned mixers with clean and organic ingredients; Basia Spencer, owner of Basia Rose Designs, a custom clothing and alterations company; and Samantha Beaver of Memra Language, a workplace communication data analytics business.
Women's Entrepreneurship Week was previously scheduled to take place in May, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was postponed to take place this week. Last year's event surpassed 2,700 attendees across roughly 70 events in Milwaukee.
