Title Nine Pitchfest 2022 Recap: We Won!

In the afternoon we had learning sessions with different teams at Title Nine. First, we sat down with three of their Marketing team members: the marketing director, the growth marketing manager, and the email marketing manager. They had interesting insights to help guide our marketing decisions and how to spend our time and money as small brands and entrepreneurs. After that, we sat down with President Johnny Lin and two of the inventory planners. We discussed how to manage inventory and key metrics to pay attention to. 

After some delicious lunch, we headed to the Berkeley Hills for orienteering! We split into teams of three and were each given a map with the location marked of check-in points where we collect points by using the unique stamp to mark our paper and answer trivia questions. I was paired with Karen Fultz-Robinson from Observame, a fellow finalist and Alix Barron from ABD Culture, a finalist from 2020. It was such a fun way to get outside and get to know each other! Our team did great and got 2nd place! After orienteering, we went out to dinner in Berkeley and met even more amazing people. We also had a chance to check out the Berkeley Title Nine store! (Thanks Patty!)

Day 2, we headed to the headquarters to set up our displays and drop everything off. We also had delicious breakfast and coffee from local brands. Before long, pitches began! Everyone did so incredibly well. I went last and was worried about getting nervous but it was an absolute pleasure watching all the entrepreneurs talk about the brands they care about so much and hearing them answer questions from the judges. I was so excited to share my passion for Lume Six and the story behind our products with everyone at the event. The only thing that made me nervous was the time limit and wanting to be sure I shared everything I cared about! 

We had a break afterward with lunch (of course a workout was also happening, but I was busy cleaning up the Lume Six display so I didn't have a chance to join). After lunch, a few previous winners (Sarah Clarke from B&Me, and Jamie Hirano from Alpine Fit) spoke about how things have evolved after winning Title Nine's Pitchfest in past years. Then, Missy Park (founder of Title Nine) sat down with Becky Worley (Good Morning America) to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, and life. It was truly insightful and I appreciate her perspective...it seems very aligned with my own and it's nice to hear someone who has had success in following that path. 

Finally! It was time for the results! I was so thrilled about the experience I truly felt that I had already won by being invited there. As I sat waiting for the results, I kept telling myself it would be fine if they didn't pick Lume Six, that we might still work together down the road. First, they named Susan Clayton from Whitepaws Run Mitts (click on the link to say goodbye to cold hands!), then Carina Hamel from Bivo (click on the link to say goodbye to gross plastic water bottles!). When they called my name "Margaux Elliott from Lume Six" a wave of emotion (a mixture of excitement, relief and pure joy) washed over me and I finally let myself feel how important and meaningful it was. This was a dream come true. To have experts at Title Nine recognize the hard work we have put in to create the next generation of sports bras is absolutely incredible. 

We are so excited to be officially welcomed into the Title Nine family as a Mover & Maker. We will be working closely with their team as we work toward launching the product there next year!

Special thanks to all the incredible women that we had the joy of speaking to over the course of the two days...Erika Togashi from September (check out her beautiful swimwear), Corinne Prevot from Skida (check out her rad accessories with awesome prints), Cassie Abel from Wild Rye (really cool women's MTB apparel), Onika Shabazz from Heat Athletic (apparel to love your body in motion), Sally Bergesen from Oiselle (incredible run-ready apparel), Kim Hopkins & Lisa Carponelli from Velorosa (beautiful women's road cycling apparel).