In September our 7th Annual Pitchfest Outdoor Edition unfolded here at T9 HQ, and as always we were blown away by the passion, determination, and bravery of female entrepreneurs. Over the course of two days, ten women from nine outdoor brands showcased their business stories, pitched their innovative products, and connected with our longstanding community of T9 Movers & Makers®.
The nitty gritty details.
Each finalist had seven minutes to deliver an inspiring pitch and seven minutes of judge-led Q&A to clarify and strengthen their proposals. The big “W” here translated to a purchase order for 2025, marketing support, continued mentorship, and valuable product exposure to Title Nine’s adventurous customers.
What made the highlight reel?
Pitches that doubled as musical numbers, innovative products with snap-off sleeves, brilliantly designed prints, challenging questions, and plenty of laughs—truly a powerful and inspiring experience.
Here’s how it all went down.
In the days before the event our badass finalists journeyed to HQ from all across the country to meet up with former Pitchfest winners, participate in workshops led by industry experts, and get outside of their comfort zone in a challenging ropes course. After these warmups, it was time for the big dance.
Pitchfest 2024 took place in our backyard here at Title Nine and kicked off with cold brew & matcha (thank you Mountain Bound Coffee!), a fill-your-own swag station, and SO MANY delicious treats from local women-owned businesses.
After a relay game led by Alice & Austen (our unofficial official game experts), T9 Founder Missy and T9 President Laurie opened the event with the words of Marge Piercy “I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience…who do what has to be done, again and again,” acknowledging the unique bravery, tenacity and persistence required of female entrepreneurs.
Then the pitches began! The finalists took the stage, and one-by-one presented their outdoor gear (and passion!) to our judges panel that included: a veteran T9 Mover & Maker and mountain biking expert, a seasoned product merchant and T9’s “bravangelist,” a finance wizard who takes on an ultra marathon at a moments notice, and our very own T9 “just add burpees” CMO. Every. Single. Pitch. Gave us the good kind of goosebumps, leaving us inspired and in awe of these innovative products and bold ventures.
After a group bootcamp workout led by Nichelle Jenkins, everyone refueled with a tasty Vietnamese lunch from local favorite Noodle Girl and non-alcoholic beverages from the women at The New Bar.
The afternoon featured a panel discussion with Laurie Etheridge (T9 President), Anna Avery (Founder & CEO at New Local PR), Amy Garrahan (Western Regional Sales Manager at Patagonia), and Becky Worley (journalist and broadcaster for ABC News). These super smart and boundary-pushing women shared their leadership experiences in both personal and professional life situations using Abby Wambach’s book Wolfpack as a guide. What an inspiring and incredible group of women!
We also had a special visit from Merrit Geary, founder of Alpen Outdoors, T9 Mover & Maker®, and Pitchfest 2023 winner. Merrit shared exciting updates about her business growth, including the great success in her first round of sales with Title Nine – we love to see it! Pro tip: check out our T9 Movers & Makers® page to learn more about these remarkable women leading the businesses we support.
After hearing from a couple of new women-owned businesses (shoutout to Paprika Partners & Sequel Tampons), we gathered to celebrate this year’s Pitchfest winners and acknowledge everyone’s achievements over drinks from our favorite female-powered bevvie-brands Brams Beer and Maker Wine, and sweet treats from Lasst Minute Sweetss and newly launched 8th & Ivy (yum!).
This year we also brought back the super popular Makers Market for finalists and current T9 Movers & Makers®. After being inspired by so many fantastic outfits, bags, and outdoor products, attendees had the chance to show their support with cold hard cash. Needless to say, we did quite a bit of shopping!
Now, meet the 2024 winners!
SENIQ
Entrepreneurs: Valentina Lorek & Madison Hilson
Madi & Tina understand the mental health benefits of outdoor adventures. With a passion for both work & play, they founded SENIQ to create stylish, adventure-ready gear that empowers women to tackle the great outdoors with confidence and flair. In their first ever pitch, we were blown away by their confidence and commitment to their brand, their mission, and to themselves. Keep your eyes peeled to see SENIQ hitting Title Nine in 2025!
Herzog
Entrepreneur: Emma Wilson
Pup mamas rejoice! After searching with no success for durable, non-toxic pet gear, Emma (& her mom, hi Mo!) decided to make their own. The secret? Waterproof silicone that truly withstands outdoor adventures without harboring odors, stains, or mildew. Kicking off her pitch with a walk-up song, Emma wowed our judges with her deep knowledge of business and her quick-witted humor. Paw-sitively perfect!
Surf Gems
Entrepreneur: Abby Ahlgrim
A passionate artist and surfer, Abby channels her love for the ocean into creating truly one-of-a-kind jewelry. Throughout her pitch she showcased her innovative approach to transform excess surfboard resin into vibrant earrings and necklaces. With a commitment to sustainability and an understanding of the vital role of movement for mental health, Abby’s enthusiasm for both her craft and the planet is infectious. Her pieces are a testament to how style and mindfulness can intersect, proving that you can wear your values with pride.
Nutshell Coolers
Entrepreneur: Tamara Mekler
While working in the Philippines, Tamara stumbled upon a few discoveries: the water inside of a coconut is refreshing and cold even on the hottest day, and used husks tend to pile up. She saw an opportunity for innovation– by transforming these overlooked fibers into eco-friendly soft-side coolers that reduce waste, and revolutionize the way we keep our food fresh. With Nutshell Coolers, we can keep our food cool and our conscious clearer – after all, who wouldn’t want to be a “coco-nut” for the planet? These lightweight, collapsible coolers will be available at a Title Nine retail location soon!
We simply couldn’t wait, so… the following brands received 2024 holiday purchase orders so that you can shop these incredible products in our upcoming gift guide! Stay tuned to see this all women-led shopping guide dropping November 19th.
Kaleidoscope Yoga Towels
Entrepreneur: Rebecca Garske
Someone has to go first, right? This year, it was Rebecca who bravely stepped up to the mat first– thankfully, this mat was complete with non-slip grips and was thoughtfully designed with bright, optimistic colors and designs. Spoiler alert: the “mat” was actually a Kaleidoscope Yoga Towel! These beauties aren’t just pretty, their anti-slip backing will keep you steady during those tricky inversions and speedy flows. Kaleidoscope yoga mat’s got grip so good, you might as well call it “Namaste Put!”
Aeronaut Outdoor
Entrepreneur: Laura Davey
Meet Laura, the fearless co-founder of Aeronaut Outdoor, who learned that she was named a finalist with only 3 weeks remaining until the event…talk about throwing yourself into the deep end! With four kids at home, she knows the importance of catching some quality Zs, so she crafted the Hoverquilt & Booster sheet to be super warm and totally packable– without the mummification vibe of a typical sleeping bag. This writer may or may not have already tested this on a recent camping trip, and can 10/10 confirm it’s THE coziest!
A huge thanks to
All the risk-taking women who showed up for the event (and who show up every damn day!) to make a difference in getting women outdoors. Here’s to everyone who made 2024 Pitchfest Outdoor Edition a success:
Speakers:
- Amy Garrahan, Patagonia
- Anna Avery, Founder – New Local PR
- Laurie Etheridge, Title Nine
- Becky Worley, ABC News (conversation moderator)
Workshop Leaders:
- Becky Worley
- Mark Francis
- Dana Caraway
- Molly Hanks
- Carlie Burkhard
- Jesse Montano
- KB Neidig
- Maddy Cutler
- Leslie Street
Mentors:
- Margaux Elliot, Founder of Lume Six
- Brittany Coleman, Founder of Tough Cutie
- Erika Togashi, Founder of SEPTEMBER
- Jen Loofbourrow, Founder of Alpine Fit
Judges:
- Renee Thomas Jacobs, TEK Brands CEO
- Cassie Abel, Wild Rye Founder
- Noriko Morimoto, Title Nine CMO
- Molly Hanks, Title Nine Merchandising Manager
We couldn’t host this fabulous day without the generous support of our local women-led vendors. And since the best results come from properly fueled bodies, we had plenty of snacks and treats on hand. Chia seed puddings from Nana Joes Granola, avocado toast from Bread Srsly, cold brew & matcha from Mountain Bound Coffee, and lunch from Noodle Girl with drinks by The New Bar. Our post-pitch happy hour was filled with dessert from Lasst Minute Sweetss and 8th & Ivy, and beverages courtesy of BRAMs Beer and Maker Wine.
Check back for the winning gear on our site and see all our current T9 Movers & Makers® to get your hands on some great women-owned gear. Get caught up on past Pitchfests here.