10 Female Founders To Watch From Selfmade's Fall 2021 Pitch Day

Sophie Meharenna
Dec 16, 2021
Melissa Moran, Founder of Swingly

It's pitching season, y'all!

Every installment of Selfmade, Brit + Co's entrepreneurship program for female founders, closes out with a fast-paced pitch competition. In it, the stakes are as high as our spirits, energy, and vibes while these moguls in the making go head-to-head for some serious cash prizes. We couldn't be more proud of the women that participate in this special showcase.

Leading up to this moment, Selfmade students spend extensive time DIY-ing their businesses — 10 weeks to be exact! — by way of a jam-packed curriculum designed to take their biz platforms from idea to launch to growth. Week-by-week, they come together, go through guided lessons, and continuously evolve their business models through assignments and feedback. Through these in-depth class sessions, coaching-led peer groups, and 1:1 mentorship conversations with experts, our founders have put their whole selves into their work. Blood, sweat, and tears. And love — lots of love.

In preparation for Pitch Day, hundreds of applicants submitted their elevator pitches for consideration. And while we wish we could pick them all, we painstakingly narrowed it down to ten finalists. Each of them was given the opportunity to present their pitch decks, walk through the size of their opportunity, and put their best foot forward.

Meet our winners:

Coming in first place was Melissa Moran, Founder of Swingly, which features doorway storefronts illustrated with fun and interactive designs, sparking creative play for kidpreneurs.

In second place was Eunice Lee, Founder of Floti, a wellness app designed for women/non-binaries diagnosed with menstrual disorders.

And in third place was Danielle Stewart, Founder of Beyond, a proactive solution that removes the burden from your family and handles all of the after-death logistics, allowing you to spend the last moments with your loved ones worry-free.

The runners up included:

  • Alexandra Arce Pickrell, Founder of LOLA Health, an AI speaker bot that along with a web-based platform provides companionship, community, and self-care to socially isolated caregivers.
  • Isis Asare, Founder of Sistah Scifi, a black-owned book store focused on Science Fiction and Fantasy.
  • Julianne Isiksalan, Founder of Dr. Floof, which empowers you to speak with a vet from wherever, whenever with virtual pet care.
  • Julie Luther, Founder of Soft Touch, an ASMR-inspired spa that provides nurturing services such as back-scratching & hair brushing in a safe, friendly environment.
  • Lacey Ernandes, Founder of Elevated Oats, a gourmet in-house granolas brand tailored to the recreational millennial.
  • Nandita Kell, Founder of Future-drinks, crafted, ready-to-drink, alcohol-free cocktails for when you are feeling like having a drink without the after-effects caused by alcohol.
  • Naomi Castillo, Founder of Oeste, which offers thoughtful, soulful goods for your home that celebrate Latinx culture and designs.

Feeling inspired? Enrollment for the next Selfmade cohort begins in the Spring of 2022. Until then, join the waitlist to stay up to date on all things entrepreneurship and announcements regarding the next wave of Selfmade.

Collaboration Hacks Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Verizon
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In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


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The Internet's Convinced Taylor Swift Is Hiding An Engagement Ring

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce haven't announced an engagement yet, but Swifties are keeping an eye out for any and every Easter egg teasing the tight end has already proposed — and after the Chiefs won against the Bills, making their way to a third consecutive Super Bowl (and after Taylor and Travis said "I love you" on live TV), fans think Taylor's using one particular accessory to hide an engagement ring. And honestly? It would be totally iconic of her.

Here's why fans think Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce are engaged — and how Tay could be hiding her engagement ring.

The internet thinks Taylor Swift's gloves could be hiding an engagement ring.

Fans were already wondering about a potential engagement this summer when she told the August 3 Eras Tour crowd she was in a "fantastic mood" and visibly played with her ring finger.

But when she wore leather gloves to the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans game on January 18, and then wore Louis Vuitton gloves to the Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game on January 26, internet sleuths immediately started talking about whether she was hiding a ring on THAT finger — especially since Caitlin Clark, who was sitting beside Taylor, wasn't wearing gloves.

"Swifties want to know are the gloves hiding a ring," one X user tweeted. "Caitlin not wearing gloves. Was Taylor colder than Caitlin?" (Although another user says "Simmer down!!" when they point out that Taylor's suite wasn't enclosed and her dad Scott Swift was actually wearing gloves).

But could they also be a 'Reputation (Taylor's Version)' Easter egg?!

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- YouTube

Whether the gloves are hiding any jewelry underneath, Swifties can't help but notice Taylor consistently wearing brands feels very 2016 — the same year her personal Reputation era started. Could this really be one giant Reputation (Taylor's Version) Easter egg?! I mean, the Year of the Snake does start tomorrow, January 29...

"the label obsession is very 2016," one user said in the comments of a @taylorswiftstyled Instagram post, while another said, "Must be a brand partnership because she doesn’t wear a lot of logos I feel."

"I love this picture of her so much 🥹 she looks so happy and proud to be there," a third user said of Taylor's smile. "I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her and Travis."

No matter what hints Taylor might be giving us, one thing's for sure: she'll let us know about any potential engagement, or rerecordings, when she's ready for it ;).

What do you think about Taylor's recent accessories? Do you think she's engaged to Travis Kelce already? Check out why Taylor Swift Brings Out The "Best Version" Of Travis Kelce: "Couldn't Be Happier". I'm swooning!

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Meet The Top 3 Founders In Our Selfmade Pitch Competition!

When you launch a business, you have to know how to sell it: to customers, to potential investors, and to the people you bring on board. In the Selfmade Fall 2024 Pitch competition, we challenged our female entrepreneurs to sell us their big idea and compete to win over $10K in prizes to build and grow their business. The judging panel was made up of a group of inspiring women in business, including Emily Merrell, founder of Second Degree Society and Ready Set Coach; Niki Shamdasani, CEO of Sani Lifestyle Brand; and Joanne Oparu Ayebo Eriaku, business transformation strategist and founder of SOAR AI School of Readiness.

Selfmade is a unique, hands-on business membership for female founders. Our coaches support our mission to help make the dreams of female founders a reality. "Our mission is to even out the odds and offer a clear route to success for business owners who've been marginalized," Emily said during the competition.

Pitch day was filled with uplifting, celebratory moments as all members cheered on the 10 finalists. Winners were judged on creativity, inspiration, authenticity, uniqueness, and evidence of impact. The finalists were phenomenal in their pitches, but the judging panel had to make the tough decision of picking three women who really stood out. Here are the winners of the Selfmade Fall 2024 pitch competition, plus our amazing finalists below!

Meet the Selfmade PItch Winners

Hyacinth Tucker

1st Place Winner

Hyacinth Tucker | The Laundry Basket

A US Army veteran and wife, Hyacinth owns and operates The Laundry Basket, a laundry subscription service that provides expert, laundry-on-demand and dry cleaning services in Maryland, DC, Northern Virginia, Northeast Ohio, and Toronto Canada. The company is committed to sustainability, offering zero-waste practices in partnership with non-profits like Impact Zero. They are also paving the way for minorities and veterans to build careers and businesses through their workforce development program. Hyacinthhas a masters of business administration and is a mom of two. When she’s not running the show, she loves traveling, reading, and playing games with her family.

Monica Casillas

2nd Place Winner

Monica Casillas | Amor Movement

Founder Monica Casillas recognized that many young Latinas faced the same challenges she did in high school, experiencing the weight of generational traumas and their impact on growth and potential. Driven by her own experiences and determination, she set out to create a transformative movement with love as its guiding force. The mission behind Amor Movement is to ignite the passion and leadership potential in young Latinas in high school. The nonprofit is dedicated to equipping these future leaders with essential life skills, professional development, and civic engagement opportunities, empowering them to break barriers and create the lives of their dreams.

Yolanda McCray

3rd Place Winner

Yolanda McCray | Skyler M Style & Wellness

Yolanda's passion for clothing, accessories, and custom products inspired the creation of Skyler M Style & Wellness, named after her Cocker Spaniel who passed away from cancer in 2019. Skyler M Style & Wellness is an online boutique and pop-up shop in South Carolina that offers clothing, accessories, and custom gifts. They are also launching gift and subscription boxes that empower women to embrace their unique style while prioritizing wellness. Their carefully curated products offer a blend of fashion and self-care, solving the common struggle women face in balancing both.

Selfmade

Meet Our Other Amazing Finalists!

Thinking about becoming a member of Selfmade? Founders can join Selfmade for just $39 per month and have a chance to pitch your business at our next pitch competition! Here's how our Selfmade community is breaking barriers and connecting you with like-minded founders:
  • On-demand courses
  • Live coaching
  • 1:1 mentorship with leading industry experts
  • Opportunities for pitching your business (such as this pitch comp!)
  • Digital events
  • AND of course, our community of 4,000+ women founders, just like you!

Learn more about the Selfmade Founder Fund and join us!

Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more tips and news!

Header image via Meghan Lamle on Unsplash

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Trader Joe’s Customers Just Revealed Their “Absolute Favorite” Products Of 2025

Trader Joe’s customers have spoken. For the 16th year in a row, the grocer conducted their Customer Choice Awards to determine what products shoppers go absolutely crazy for. We’ve got everything from savory chips to dips and drinks to classic frozen meals – yuuumm. As a TJ’s frequenter, I can definitely certify that all of the top picks have rightfully earned their winning spots!

Scroll on to see the 11 best Trader Joe’s products of 2025, according to shoppers.

Trader Joe's

Best Overall: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips

Widely known as a wonderful dupe for Takis, Trader Joe's Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips ($3) topped the charts by winning Best Overall. They're "tastefully tangy" and "definitely spicy," but each bite balances the two flawlessly. They make for a delightful mid-day snack or even a midnight snack, if you're feeling it.

Trader Joe's

Best New: Cashel Blue Cheese Irish Potato Chips

According to TJ's, these limited-edition crisps (they were available over the holidays) are sourced from an Irish supplier that employs Irish potatoes and Cashel Blue cheese, resulting in a tangy and salty bite every single time. Their unique and pungent flavor profile makes them the ultimate candidate for charcuterie boards!

Trader Joe's

Best Beverage: Spiced Cider

Another famed holiday item, the Spiced Cider easily snagged the #1 spot for Best Beverage. It's yummy hot or iced, and its apple-y sweetness is just the perfect fit for cozy season.

Trader Joe's

Best Cheese: Goat Cheese

This $3 log of plain goat cheese has proved it's truly the G.O.A.T. by garnering tons of votes for Best Cheese. The Chevre cheese is is "fresh, soft, and unaged," so it's ideal to form into homemade dips or even spread on top of bruschetta.

Trader Joe's

Best Produce: Teeny Tiny Avocados

These marvelous avocados come in a single-serve size, which is so nice to have on-hand especially if you live alone – or just tend to eat avos quite slowly. A single bag goes for $4, adding to the 'bang for your buck' factor.

Trader Joe's

Best Appetizer: Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip

And the winner for Best Appetizer goes to... this delicious spinach & artichoke dip! It heats up easily in the oven to turn into a bubbly, gooey, cheesy pot that you can easily dip breads, crackers, and veggies into.

Trader Joe's

Best In Breakfast + Brunch: Hashbrowns

Hashbrowns have taken the cake for Best In Breakfast + Brunch items. And it's no surprise, really – they're such a yummy and dependable pick to keep in the freezer when you want something savory in the morning. They taste just like McDonald's hashbrowns, but you get 10 patties for $3.

Trader Joe's

Best In Lunch + Dinner: Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice

TJ's touts their Butter Chicken to be filled with "chunks of chicken enrobed in a mild, mouth-watering curry crafted of crushed tomatoes, cream, onions, garlic, ginger, butter." Yummm. This spicy meal is quickly ready to go with some basmati rice after just a few minutes in the microwave.

Trader Joe's

Best In Bath, Body, + Home: Brazil Nut Body Butter

This rich body butter has been one of the best Trader Joe's beauty products for years now. It smells like absolute heaven with notes of salted caramel, pistachio, coconut, and vanilla and boasts a unique whipped texture that melts onto the skin.

Runners-up for the Best In Bath, Body, + Home include: Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40, Coconut Body Butter, Leave In Conditioner, and Lavender Spray Hand Sanitizer.

Trader Joe's

Best Snack: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips

The Takis dupe returns! Appearing for a second time on this year's Customer Choice Awards list and a sixth time over the years, this spicy snack finally snagged a spot on the Trader Joe's Hall of Fame.

Trader Joe's

Best Sweet Treat: Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream sandwiches are a total classic, especially when they come covered in chocolate chips. This $5 dessert won Best Sweet Treat this year, among other sugary favorites like Almond Kringle, Hold the Cone! Chocolate Chip, Jingle Jangle, and Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more epic Trader Joe's products!

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OMG, Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal Are Reuniting For A 'When Harry Met Sally' Surprise

When I opened my Instagram feed and saw a picture of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal together again, my first reaction was "AH!" — especially since they're sitting on a couch, just like they do at the end of When Harry Met Sally. Not to mention the fact Billy's wearing a pullover very similar to his iconic cable knit sweater in the rom-com. The duo announced they're reuniting for a special surprise and fans are convinced there's only one thing that surprise could be: a 2025 Super Bowl commercial.

Here's everything we know about Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal's When Harry Met Sally reunion.

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A post shared by Meg Ryan (@megryan)

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal made a joint Instagram post on January 22 teasing a big surprise. "It’s finally happening, we’re reuniting for something iconic," Meg says in the caption. "Can’t wait to show you all soon 💙."

My favorite thing about the post (aside from the surprise, obviously) is the fact that Meg and Billy are in outfits their When Harry Met Sally characters would totally approve of. Meg's blazer and button down and Billy's white cable knit sweater? Say no more!

Now we're sure to find out what this surprise is soon, but that hasn't stopped fans from making a lot of guesses.

"I bet it’s a Super Bowl ad ❤️," one user comments, while another agrees, "I need a sequel (but I’m thinking it’s a Super Bowl commercial?)."

Although a third comment totally summarizes how I'm feeling: "IT’S HAPPENING OH MY GOD EVERYONE REMAIN CALM."

Bleecker Street

The last time we saw Meg Ryan onscreen, it was for her latest rom-com What Happens Later. The movie follows two exes who spend a night of adventure together when they're stranded at an airport.

“It’s a different story than when you’re in your 20s,” Meg told Glamour. “I wanted to make something beautiful and offer a new way of thinking about what love is.”

And this new movie connects to her other films, like When Harry Met Sally, because “whatever was happening, they were destined to find one another," she continues. "There’s a comfort in the kismet and the idea of an inevitable connection. It’s a wonderland idea. It’s an enchanted idea.”

And old school media lovers are living large because this isn't the only reunion we've gotten lately! At the beginning of December, Gilmore Girls fans were in for a treat when Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson reunited as Luke and Lorelai for a Walmart commercial (alongside Sean Gunn as Kirk, naturally).

The commercial features Luke and Lorelai standing in Luke's diner talking all things "coffee coffee coffee," with Luke in his signature flannel and Lor wearing a sherpa jacket she'd be all over in 2025.

It all started when Lauren Graham teased the collab on Instagram, saying she had "something brewing." And Scott's post that he was "back at #LukesDiner for something really special," fans picked up on it. "KING LUKE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!?!?" one user commented. "I’m ready for whatever this is ☕️ 😍," a second added.

What do you think about Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal's When Harry Met Sally reunion? Check out Where To Stream The Best Meg Ryan Movies to prep for the surprise!

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