Business owners to seek investment, advice at event

Six women-owned Iowa businesses will compete Thursday for up to $40,000 from eight investors.

The Invest in She event, presented by Iowa Women Lead Change (IWLC), begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Kirkwood Hotel & Event Center.

'All of the research shows that women, when their position improves, their life improves, their families life improves, their community improves as well as the businesses,” said Diane Ramsey, CEO of IWLC.

This is the second year for the Invest in She event, which was created after IWLC learned from a 2012 report that Iowa was last in the nation in cumulative growth in the number of women-owned firms.

The six businesses, which were chosen out of more than 30 applicants, will present pitches to local investors and receive advice and mentoring. The investors then will decide whether to pool their money or invest separately, and who will receive the money.

Heidi Parkhurst, an investor for the second year and a member of the IWLC Board of Directors, said she will be looking for businesses with a 'unique and/or original idea” and a 'market large enough to be viable”.

Each of the businesses were chosen based on whether they were capable of creating jobs, had the ability to 'scale up” and had a viable concept, Ramsey said.

Most of the six companies chosen are creative or service-based. The finalists range from Flaggers National Control System, which provides traffic control and safety training for those working on roads, to kittd, a company that provides materials and instructions for Pinterest projects.

The other companies selected are UpCraft Club, a sewing association; Adore Your Walls, an online art advisory company; Burst Cycle, a boutique cycling studio and Take the Cake Cupcakes.

While investment money is a real possibility for many of these businesses, one of the participating business owners said she thought the exposure and mentoring will be the biggest benefit.

'Money is just the opportunity to fail harder,” said Liz Lidgett, owner of Adore Your Walls. 'Financial assistance with mentorship makes it seem like the perfect opportunity.”