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Selfmade is designed to make the dreams of female founders a reality, and the 2023 fall pitch competition accomplished just that! The challenge called upon female entrepreneurs to showcase what they've been working on and compete to win prizes that will allow them to continue to put their ambitions in motion. The judging panel was made up of a group of inspiring, boss women — one of whom was Brit + Co's founder, Brit Morin!

Although a competition in nature, the entire day was filled with uplifting women and celebrating everyone's entrepreneurial spirit and journeys. The contestants highlighted their passion for making an impact in their own industry and beyond and were more than willing to share their trials and triumphs to inspire others.

Winners were judged on creativity, inspiration, authenticity, uniqueness, and evidence of impact. And, while every single one of the contestants was able to dominate in these categories, the judging panel made the tough decision of picking three stand-outs in the bunch. Without further ado, here are the winners of the Selfmade fall 2023 pitch competition!

Meet The Winners

The first-place winner of the pitch competition went to the extremely well-deserving Ashley Sutton! Sutton's company, Hustle and Hope Cards, is redefining the greeting card industry. Her products are created to celebrate life's biggest moments, while also giving you access to resources that will allow the recipient to better themself. Her energy throughout her pitch was undeniable, and she also possessed an admirable resilience. Sutton applied for the pitch competition 3 times and was not discouraged when it didn't work out prior!

It was a close race for second place, but Lauren Teague managed to snag the prize! She presented her company, FANWAGN, with extreme professionalism and detail, leaving the entire audience impressed. Her company connects fans with pre-loved authentic college and sports merchandise and is revolutionizing the fandom space.

Claiming the third place spot was Johnetra Bailey with Croyance Beauty! Her company is making strides to further education on PCOS and hormonal care and finds itself at the intersection of wellness and beauty. The passion and confidence with which she spoke about her brand and the clear impact it's already had on the beauty industry and women's health impressed the judges and landed her in the top 3!

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Header image via Olia Danilevich/Pexels

As women, it's so important to have a community behind us that supports us in our hustle and goal-chasing. After attending Selfmade Summit 2023, I learned that this community not only exists, but it's also even better than I could have imagined. The experience was truly transformative for me and my fellow attendees, as we were reminded of the power we each hold and gained invaluable knowledge and insights from successful women who truly have it all.

At the summit, we were given the opportunity to hear from Brit Morin, the driving force behind Selfmade and founder of Brit + Co! A mother of three and a true self-made entrepreneur, Morin spoke candidly about her journey to success. She shared that she fell in love with technology at just 9 years old (!) and carried that with her throughout her career.

Throughout her conversations with the group, she dropped a number of pieces of wisdom that really stuck with me. Two standout things that she shared were:

1. Self-made isn't about figuring it on your own.
2. Women supporting women makes the world a better place.

While being a "girl boss" and trying to climb the ladder of success can feel like an isolating and lonely experience, Morin made sure to remind her listeners that it doesn't have to be. Building your village and then leaning on it is actually one of the best things you can do for yourself and will pay off big time!

This idea is actually reflected through the very essence of Brit + Co, too. She briefly touched on her inspiration for the name, explaining that she wanted it to be a place where "a woman named Brit is teaching you things." but there's also an entire community of women who are there to share their experiences and life learnings as well.

We also had the chance to hear from a special guest, Danyel Surrency Jones. She's the Co-Founder and former CEO of a company called POWERHANDZ, which provides athletic gloves and sports training equipment. She shared her inspiring and remarkable journey and how she leverages technology for her and her company's success. One of my favorite Surrency Jones noted was that we are all "only as strong as the community and network we make," truly bringing everything from the event together.

An extremely impactful part of the day for me was hearing from the Selfmade Pitch Day winners. Their stories of how they applied the principles of business growth and learned from the women who came before them were inspiring to say the very least. They shared practical insights and strategies that felt applicable to my own life and journey and my fellow attendees shared the same sentiment.

Finally, we wrapped up the day with a mini-workshop from Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready program. It was very engaging and gave us all the opportunity to speak up and apply what we had learned that day.

Throughout all of the learnings from this summit, my key takeaway was that success is not a one-woman game. Being willing to put in the time to find a support system and be the support system for others is crucial. As women, we need to be our own biggest allies and build each other up, so that we can all accomplish our goals and pave the way for future generations.

For even more empowerment in your week, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter!

Header image via Selfmade

Here are the best Western shows to watch after you finish 1923 season 2.

5 TV Shows To Watch After You Finish '1923' Season 2

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Landman — Stream on Paramount+

In this Taylor Sheridan show, crisis executive Tommy Norris is fighting to secure his company's spot in the oil business during a fuel boom. Easier said than done. 1923 fans, keep your eyes peeled for Michelle Randolph!

Landman is on Paramount+ and stars Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Jacob Lofland, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan, Mark Collie, Paulina Chávez, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Andy Garcia, and Michael Peña.

Prime Video

Outer Range — Stream on Prime Video

If you like your Westerns with a side of sci-fi, tune into Outer Range. This show follows the Abbott family, who are trying to protect their ranch while also reconciling their daughter-in-law's disappearance. But things get even crazier when a black void appears.

Outer Range is on Prime Video and stars Josh Brolin, Lili Taylor, Noah Reid, and Imogen Poots.

Hallmark Media

When Calls the Heart — Stream on Hallmark+

1923 fans who can't get enough of Spencer & Alex's romance will want to watch When Calls the Heart, which follows teacher Elizabeth Thatcher as she relocates to the small town of Coal Valley, and faces all kinds of love, loss, and adventure.

When Calls the Heart is on Hallmark+ and stars Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Pascale Hutton, Jaeda Lily Miller, Kavan Smith, Andrea Brooks, Chris McNally, Martin Cummins, Viv Leacock, and Jack Wagner.

David Brown/MGM+

Billy The Kid — Stream on MGM+

Before he became the infamous outlaw, Billy was just a kid who experienced all kinds of heartbreak, fell in love, and got into plenty of trouble. Watch our interview with star Tom Blyth!

Stream Billy The Kid on MGM+ and see Tom Blyth, Eileen O'Higgins, Daniel Webber, and Alex Roe.

Ursula Coyote/Netflix

Godless — Stream on Netflix

Godless is the perfect show for 1923 fans because it reorients the cowboy narrative we're all familiar with. It follows a supposed traitor named Roy who's chased by a gang of outlaws to La Belle, a town nearly entirely governed by women after a mining accident killed almost all the husbands, fathers, and brothers.

Godless is on Netflix and stars Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Check out even more Western show recommendations with our 17 TV Shows For Yellowstone Fans!