Female entrepreneurs to compete for investments in the Invest in She competition

Six female entrepreneurs from industries ranging from technology to global education will compete June 14 in the Invest in She competition at The Kirkwood Hotel & Convention Center.

Iowa Women Lead Change (IWLC) in Cedar Rapids said the finalists and their Corridor businesses are Michelle Owens of Delve MIY, Allison Poss of Girls With Ideas, Katriece Ray of PartWhere, Emily Roberts of Western Wise, Melissa Sheehy of Balanced Fitness & Health, and Lesley Triplett of Dumpling Darling.

Corridor investors will give a total of $40,000 to the businesses. The investors will identify the needs and opportunities of each business and decide collectively how to designate the funding. Confirmed 2016 investors include Dennis Henderson, CEO and co-founder of Ready Wireless LLC; Heidi Parkhurst, vice president of Wealth Management and senior resident director at Merrill Lynch; Lynn Schreder, owner of KHI Solutions and a representative of the Iowa chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners; Gilda and Barry Boyer, business owners and entrepreneurs; Kevin Collins of Nyemaster Goode PLC, and Ravi Patel, president of Hawkeye Hotels.

IWLC, a Cedar Rapids-based not-for-profit that focuses on advancing women in Iowa, holds the Invest in She competition in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. Over the past three years, investors have awarded more than $110,000 to 18 female entrepreneurs across the state.

Tickets for the competition are available for $35 until Sunday. After that, tickets will be $50 at www.InvestinSheCR.com.