Preparing for a pitch competition goes beyond perfecting your slides. It is about telling a compelling story, communicating your vision, and confidently showcasing the value of your business.
Join ACE NextGen for an insightful conversation featuring entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated pitch competitions. Learn practical tips, strategies, and lessons from founders who have competed on major platforms and gained valuable exposure for their businesses.
Featured Speakers
Lena Chao
Founder, Clean Circle Skin
Lena Chao is the Founder of Clean Circle, a sustainable beauty brand redefining self-care through environmentally responsible products inspired by heritage ingredients. Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Lena has earned recognition in numerous pitch competitions, winning the Jenny Jing Zhu Collective Social Good Beauty Brand Award, Trailblazers Women Innovators Pitch Competition, and the BeautyMatter Lubrizol Grant for Emerging Beauty Brand. She was also named a finalist in the Tower 28 Clean Beauty Summer School for Emerging Beauty Brands. Her experience pitching on competitive stages has provided valuable insights into building a compelling founder story, communicating impact, and standing out in front of judges and investors.
Youngwon Lee
Founder & Chief, Dokkaebi
Youngwon Lee will share lessons from his experience with Walmart Road to Open Call, offering guidance on preparing for competitive opportunities, refining your pitch, and leveraging these platforms to grow your business.
Hedy Yu
Co-founder, Rooted Fare
Hedy Yu co-founded Rooted Fare, bootstrapping the Chinese-American black sesame butter brand to $1M in five years with no prior industry experience, earning her a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list and the Crunchy Black Sesame Butter in Food & Wine, Good Morning America, and more. Rooted Fare was also one of the finalists for the Trailblazers Women Innovators Pitch Competition. With a self-designed degree and a Digital Marketing Certificate from UC Berkeley, she specializes in GTM strategy, brand positioning, and naming. Hedy will share insights on go-to-market strategy, brand positioning, and how founders can communicate their value clearly when pitching to judges, partners, and customers.
Moderator
Soo Jin Lee, LMFT
Soo Jin Lee is the Executive Director of Yellow Chair Collective and Co-founder of Entwine Community. As an Asian immigrant, licensed marriage and family therapist, and mental health advocate, she brings a thoughtful perspective on leadership, identity, entrepreneurship, and belonging. She is also the co-author of Where I Belong, which explores the intersection of culture, belonging, and personal growth. Yellow Chair Collective was also a past finalist for Trailblazers Women Innovators Pitch Competition.
Whether you are preparing for your first pitch competition or looking to strengthen your approach, this conversation will provide valuable insights to help you present your business with confidence.