Five finalists named for 2015 InnovateHER-RI business competition

FIVE FINALISTS have been named in the 2015 InnovateHER-RI business competition.
FIVE FINALISTS have been named in the 2015 InnovateHER-RI business competition.

PROVIDENCE – LeveragedSolutions, a division of LGC+D LLP, has named five finalists in the 2015 InnovateHER-RI business competition.
From a field of 25 applicants, the finalists that emerged are Daniel Aziz of Luna Pharmaceuticals in Providence; Kimberly Cornwall of Celadon Road in Cumberland; Cynthia Poon of Increment Studios in Providence; Brigid Rafferty of the Power of Juice in Middletown; and Meg Wirth of Maternova Inc. in Providence.
LeveragedSolutions is hosting the statewide competition as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s nationwide contest, a challenge designed to promote and reward products and services that impact and empower women and families. LGC+D LLP provides accounting, tax and financial consulting services to businesses and individuals.
The competition is in the second round, and five finalists will pitch their business plans live on Dec. 1 to a panel of three judges. The winner will be eligible to compete in the national competition for a chance to win up to $70,000 for their business.
Winners must have a measurable impact on the lives of women and families, have the potential for commercialization and fill a need in the marketplace, said Susan A. Keller, managing partner of LeveragedSolutions.
“We were thrilled with the number of high quality applicants,” Keller said. “Choosing the finalists was tough. We’re very pleased with the diversity and quality of the finalists’ products and services.”
Honorable mentions go to Yelitsa Jean Charles of Healthy Roots Dolls in Providence and Belinda Wong of Care Technology LLC in Lincoln.
Rhode Island judges are Melissa Withers, managing director of RevUp – BetaSpring; Dan Holmander, counsel at Adler Pollock & Sheehan and Deb Schimberg, founder and president of Glee Gum.
The InnovateHER-RI finals will be held at Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. at the Social Enterprise Greenhouse, 10 Davol Square, Unit 100, Providence. A winner, who will represent Rhode Island in the national contest, will be announced at a network reception beginning at 6 p.m.

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