Third Annual Title Nine Movers and Makers Pitchfest Announces 2020 Winners

September 25, 2020

Velarosa Cycling, SEPTEMBER THE LINE, and Stream2Sea are Title Nine’s newest Movers and Makers

Emeryville, Calif, Sept. 25, 2020 – Title Nine, the adventure and outdoor apparel retailer that encourages women to risk, lead and own, held its third annual Movers and Makers Pitchfest today. In a year particularly fraught with devastation and disappointment for many communities, Pitchfest is designed to support, promote and encourage female-led brands to risk, own and lead in their business endeavors. The event, in which nine womxn-led businesses made the cut, provides a platform to pitch their brand to seasoned professionals, in the hopes of winning marketing, sales and mentoring support from the esteemed womens brand.

Held as a virtual event this year, the nine finalists and other guests joined virtually, while judges and Title Nine staff convened safely in Emeryville, CA. The all-day immersive experience, including icebreaker games, a workout, and panel sessions, in between finalist pitches, and were able to network with other founders and womxn-led businesses such as Oiselle, Coalition Snow, and Bronwen Jewelry.

As finalists, these women rose to the top as entrepreneurial, driven and market appealing brand representatives, and each impressed the judges with their branding, marketing and sales visions. Finalists included Raquel Vélez, Alpine Parrot; Elise Holmes, Vela Apparel; Erika Togashi, SEPTEMBER THE LINE; Jessica Boynton, Hakuna Wear; Autumn Blum, Stream2Sea; Kristina Powell, Koala Clip; Alixandra Barron, ABD Culture; Kokeb Kassa, Teffley; Kim Hopkins and Lisa Carponelli, Velorosa Cycling.

After much deliberation, the winners of the 2020 Title Nine Movers and Makers Pitchfest are: Erika Togashi of SEPTEMBER THE LINE; Kim Hopkins and Lisa Carponelli of Velorosa Cycling; and Autumn Blum of Stream2Sea. Alixandra Barron of ABD Culture and Kokeb Kassa of Teffley were also named retail winners and will receive in-store placement with Title Nine.

“We are thrilled to welcome these incredible women leaders and entrepreneurs into our movers and makers family,” said Lisa Gilliland, Title Nine’s Community Builder and Pitchfest Organizer. “Beyond the competitive spirit of the event, we felt that this year’s experience provided hope and optimism for all those the participants as well as our Title Nine team. In a year where we have all felt unprecedented struggle, pitchfest was a chance to celebrate and encourage an exceptional community of female founders and their relentless entrepreneurial spirit.”

The three primary winners will receive mentorship from Title Nine founder Missy Park and other female business leaders as well as a purchase order from Title Nine.

“This year’s pitchfest was an awe inspiring display of resiliency and courage,” remarked Title Nine Founder and CEO Missy Park. “This field of finalists are not only tackling the normal challenges women face in business, but also much larger, unanticipated forces happening on a global and national scale. Pitching during a time like this requires poise, strength, and unflinching confidence. Watching these women was a great reminder of how significant a supportive community is as we all navigate the changing landscape.”

Title Nine, inspired by the groundbreaking 1972 equality legislation, is encouraged by the tenacity of female entrepreneurs in today’s space. As more female founders find communities of support and promotion, the old boys’ club will begin to see the evolution of the new girls’ network, and Title Nine aims to be a resource and guiding light for them all.

Please visit the Title Nine Movers and Makers Pitchfest website for more information. www.titlenine.com/pitchfest.

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Media Contact: Anna Avery, anna@outsidepr.com

About Title Nine: Title Nine was founded in 1989 as a women’s outdoor performance wear company whose goal is to outfit and inspire women to take risks, lead in their communities, and seek their own adventures. Today, the woman-owned company employs over 300 people and has 19 stores in 10 states, and online at titlenine.com. Selling a range of top brands curated for active women who are on-the-go, the brand has increasingly devoted much of its collections to its own brand creations ranging from swimwear to performance dresses. The company advocates forcefully for women’s issues, including creating Movers and Makers Pitchfest, the yearly event that partners with small, women-owned brands to find a voice — and a sales platform.