Four Triangle companies will compete as regional finalists in the U.S. Small Business Association’s InnovateHER Business Challenge on Friday in downtown Durham.

InnovateHER is a national competition for new products and services that impact and empower the lives of women and families. The overall winner of the national competition will receive up to $70,000 in prize money.

“It’s been a big couple of weeks at Nido Durham,” said co-founder Tiffany Frye in a public statement on Facebook. “We signed a contract with our second full-time employee, and we found out we are regional finalists for the national InnovateHer competition.”

Who’s pitching on Friday?

  • Nido Durham: The southeast’s only coworking space with on-site childcare. The front half of our building is a light-filled coworking space and the back half is a Montessori preschool.
  • Spin-Darc: A patented and patent-pending technology for automated, real-time biodetection and validation of microbial or chemical contaminants. This lightweight, low-power imaging device consists of a specialized disk that has been impregnated with a predefined array of reactive sites.
  • Sweetie Pie Organics: Sweetie Pie Organics makes delicious wholesome snacks from quality organic ingredients for toddlers. They’ll be pitching a new product, a Lactation Smoothie, a breast milk promoting drink for nursing mothers.
  • Tiger Eye Sensor: A revolutionary, wearable and hands-free personal security device that allows you to take home-based security monitoring with you outside the home and provides actionable evidence for the identification and prosecution of criminals.

One winner will be selected to compete for a spot in the cash prize round in Washington, D.C. in March 2016.

These four teams will be pitching their business plans at 2 pm on Friday, November 20 at 303 S. Roxboro St, Suite #20 (The Venable Center).

“InnovateHer seeks innovative businesses that have a positive impact on the lives of women and children,” said Frye. “We are thrilled to be a part of it!”

The companies will be judged by the following key criteria from the Small Business Association:

  • Have a measurable impact on the lives of women and families (30%)
  • Have the potential for commercialization (40%), and
  • Fill a need in the marketplace (30%).

The event will be held live, and is open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.