The Stacy's Rise Project: Stacy's Brand Extends Commitment to Helping Female Founders Rise Headlines Entrepreneurs

Stacy's Pita Chips is dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs grow their food and beverage businesses. After all, the brand's success story starts with being founded by a strong female entrepreneur – Stacy Madison. The funding gap Stacy Madison faced when working to grow her pita chip business remains as staggering today as it was 20 years ago. In 2018, female founders in America received only 2 percent of all venture capital funding in North America – with women of color receiving 0.2 percent. The Stacy's brand created The Stacy's Rise Project to help female founders grow their businesses at the same pace as their male counterparts.

Stacy's Rise Project, in partnership with Alice, a leading online resource for women and other minority entrepreneurs, is officially accepting applications from female founders of food and beverage businesses for the chance to win prize packages that both grow and nourish their businesses. Renowned entrepreneur, food expert, actress, best-selling author and Top Chef executive producer Padma Lakshmi will join a judging panel of recognized business professionals to select five finalists to each receive a $20,000 funding prize, entrepreneurial advice and business development support. One deserving female founder will receive an additional $100,000 grand prize award to help her business rise to the next level.

"The economic empowerment of women is the single most powerful contribution we can make to advancing gender equality. When women have economic independence, they invest back into their families and their communities, creating an undeniable upward cycle of prosperity," said Ciara Dilley, vice president of marketing, Stacy's Snacks. "We are excited that the Stacy's Rise Project will now provide female founders of food and beverage businesses with the mentorship and financial support they need to achieve their dreams."

Helping Women Rise

Now through June 21, 2019, applicants can apply to Stacy's Rise Project by submitting a one-minute video and details on their "recipe for success" or, in other words, background information on their company's history, their unique product or service and, intended use of the funding. To be eligible to apply, Stacy's is looking for female-founded businesses that currently sell a food and/or beverage product or service and have an annual revenue of at least $25,000. Full details on the eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found at stacysrise.helloalice.com.

Entrepreneurial powerhouse Padma Lakshmi will join the Stacy's Rise Project judging panel made up of esteemed business professionals – which includes Elizabeth Gore, president and chairwoman of Alice, Shawn Kelly, co-founder and CEO of SnackNation – to narrow down the submissions to five finalists. Lakshmi is helping Stacy's launch the funding program at Circular Summit, a two-day conference hosted by Alice that gathers female founders in Santa Rosa, Calif.

"Establishing a successful food and beverage business venture requires relentless diligence and determination, which is especially true if you are a female founder," said Lakshmi. "As an entrepreneur who overcame many obstacles through the years, I know how important it is to have access to resources and a strong network of mentors and peers alike to help you overcome the inevitable growing pains. I am proud to partner with Stacy's Pita Chips to support female founders and help level the playing field for women."

The Stacy's Brand will award $20,000 to five finalists in July. From there, they will engage in mentoring and the winner selection phase through October. In addition to the funding awards, each finalist will receive invaluable experiences and access to resources, including: an in-person kick-off at Frito-Lay's headquarters, ongoing mentorship with personalized one-to-one guidance and advice from an experienced PepsiCo executive, office hours with industry experts and a face-to-face session with Stacy Madison, founder of Stacy's Pita Chips. The program culminates on November 19 – Women's Entrepreneurship Day – with the announcement of the $100,000 grand-prize winner.

All female founders who apply to Stacy's Rise Project will also get access to PepsiCo's WomanMade Community, a virtual convening of passionate female founders on Alice who have come together to share and engage in resources and ideas to grow their businesses.

"Together, Stacy's Pita Chips and Alice are bringing tangible and meaningful support to women entrepreneurs in the food and beverage space through funding, mentorship and marketing," said Elizabeth Gore, president and chairwoman, Alice. "This is exactly the kind of initiative that is important in creating a more inclusive ecosystem for business owners, and the bottom line is that supporting women entrepreneurs is also good business."

For more information on how to submit, visit stacysrise.helloalice.com.

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