Odlum Brown Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala

Three Finalists to Pitch for the $25,000 Purse at The Odlum Brown Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala on February 20, 2020

We’re reading up on the projects that the three finalists are working on for the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala and finding their passion for success inspiring! Best of luck to all finalists. Here’s the news on the Gala. GLV.

Side note! Entirely plant-based dinner menu to be served by Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Executive chef Colin Burslem

Wildly successful entrepreneurs and business leaders will be supporting outstanding women entrepreneurs and raising funds this February 20^th at The Odlum Brown Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala, co-chaired by Christina Anthony, VP & Director Portfolio Manager, Odlum Brown (FWE Founder & Chair Emeritus) and Lara Dauphinee, Managing Director, Fiore Group. Now in its 18^th year, the Odlum Brown FWE Gala has become Vancouver’s annual Event of the Year for celebrating women’s entrepreneurial successes. FWE has been leading the way with its innovative and transformative work, and the legacy of innovation will continue this year as the Gala will be the Fairmont Hotel’s first large banquet event in Canada to serve an entirely plant-based dinner menu.

The multi-course menu was created by Fairmont executive chef Colin Burslem and features a selection of plant-based dishes including a delectable main entrée of lentil and mushroom “tenderloin” and cauliflower risotto, and assorted desserts highlighting citrus, chocolate and coconut.

“We were excited when FWE approached us with the challenge to create an entirely plant-based menu for their gala dinner, a first for us and in Canada. We’re proud of our menu, and we believe it showcases that plant-based dishes are something everyone can enjoy,” says Fairmont executive chef Colin Burslem.

Pooneh Mohajer, co-founder of Tokidoki and Hard Candy and Charles Chang, founder of Lyra Growth Partners and Vega will also be joining the 700+ entrepreneurs and business leaders at the Odlum Brown FWE Gala to select the $25,000 winner of the 4^th annual Pitch for the Purse Competition at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Since launching in 2016, Pitch for the Purse participants have raised cumulatively over $20 million, created 200+ new jobs and grew their annualized revenue by $67 million. Past Finalists include Tara Bosch, Smart Sweets; Nicole Smith, Flytographer; and Sonia Strobel, Skipper Otto. This year’s three finalists were selected out of 200+ applications from across Canada to be mentored by industry leaders on how to pitch to investors and present live on-stage.

What: The Odlum Brown FWE Gala and Pitch for the Purse Finale

When: Thursday, February 20 (5:30 p.m. reception; 6:30 p.m. dinner and program)

Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Who:

Finalist: Taran and Bunny Ghatrora, Co-Founders, Blume and mentored by Brian Paes-Braga, Principal, Head of Merchant Banking at SAF Group. Blume is the fastest growing and first ever cohesive line of personal care products for Gen Z girls as they grow through puberty. Blume is setting a new standard for education and self-care through puberty and beyond.

Finalist: Lynn Dargis, CEO, Farmbucks Inc. and mentored by Manny Padda, Founder & Managing Director of New Avenue Capital. Farmbucks is an app and website that centralizes, sorts and displays real-time grain bids for farmers so that they are able to identify and make profitable decisions quickly and efficiently.

Finalist: Kate Swanson, CEO & Founder, Ensembl, and mentored by Abigail Slater, General Partner at Marigold Capital. Ensembl is a modern-living housewares company launching an all-in-one nesting cookware system designed to take up one-fifth the space required by traditional products.

Honourary Mentor: Richard Jaffray, President and Founder of Cactus Restaurants Ltd, joined Abigail Slater and Manny Padda as a Guest Judge at the Pitch for the Purse Semi-Finals in Vancouver, BC. On behalf of Brian Paes-Braga, Richard Jaffray selected Blume to move forward as a Finalist. Richard generously committed to be an Honourary Mentor for all Finalists, providing them with additional support and advising in the lead up to the Finale.

Expert Judge: Pooneh Mohajer, CEO and Co-Founder of tokidoki, a global Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand. Prior to tokidoki, she co-founded Hard Candy Inc, a colour cosmetics company that revolutionized the industry worldwide. Hard Candy’s explosive growth produced sales of $10M in less than two years and led to the successful sale in 1999 to LVMH, Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

Expert Judge: Charles Chang, President and Founder of Lyra Growth Partners, a growth equity firm that provides flexible, founder-friendly capital and brand savvy coaching to fast-growing consumer-facing companies. Charles was the Founder and President of Vega, a leading brand of clean, plant-based nutritional products in North America. In 2015, Charles led the sale of Vega to White Wave Foods for US$550 million.

About FWE:

The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) is a Canadian charity that educates, mentors and connects women entrepreneurs to be wildly successful, promoting strong economies and thriving communities. With the goal of building the economy, one woman-owned business at a time, FWE supports women who are venturing into new business opportunities or ready to ramp up and grow their existing business. From start-up advice to specific tips and tricks, FWE leaders, advisors, and business professionals are ready to share their expertise through game-changing and impactful programs. Since its inception, FWE has supported over 2,000 Mentors and Mentees, counts 570+ E-Series Alumnae, and has educated and mentored 400+ women with Pitch for the Purse. More importantly, when you help a woman entrepreneur who graduates from FWE’s E-Series, she will go on to create 10 more jobs within three years of graduating. Although 50 percent of new businesses fail after the first five years, women who are educated and mentored by FWE are beating the odds stacked against them and are three times more likely to still be in business than the Canadian average. Learn more at www.fwe.ca.