And The Judges Are…

Philadelphia magazine and UnitedHealthcare will host The Pitch. We're looking for the city's next best product or service and giving away over $30,000.

Philadelphia magazine and UnitedHealthcare will host The Pitch.

Philadelphia magazine and UnitedHealthcare will host The Pitch.

Because we know Philadelphia is bustling with great ideas and innovators eager to share their stories, Philadelphia magazine is calling on the city’s movers and shakers to enter their ideas in this summer’s biggest competition, The Pitch.

Philadelphia magazine and UnitedHealthcare will host The Pitch, an opportunity for entrepreneurs to take their innovation to the next level by presenting their new product or service before a panel of judges. One winner will receive a grand prize worth over $30,000.

The deadline to submit your product or service is July 15th.

On August 15th, five finalists will present in front of a live panel of five judges, and on September 7th, the finalists will also present before a live audience where The Pitch’s 2016 winner will be revealed.

Here are the four industry leaders who will join me on the judge’s panel in August:

Archna Sahay, named Philadelphia’s “Best Connector” by Philadelphia magazine in 2014, currently serves as director of Entrepreneurial Investment for the City of Philadelphia. She is responsible for business and economic development for the tech sector in Philadelphia. Sahay also manages the city’s StartupPHL platform, which includes a $6 million fund for making investments in early stage ventures in Philadelphia. She launched the Female Founders Network two years ago to expand access for women in business.

Justin Rosenburg is the founder and CEO of honeygrow, a restaurant concept focused on vibrant, healthy and dynamic foods through its stir fry and salad programs. The first honeygrow opened in 2012 and Rosenburg has since opened eight locations, with as many as seven more scheduled to open in 2016 across Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and New Jersey. Since 2012, the Philadelphia startup has raised over $25 million in equity financing to foster growth and technology driven projects.

Wayne Kimmel, known around town as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist and master networker, is a managing partner of SeventySix Capital, a venture capital firm that he founded in 1999. Kimmel has invested in over 40 startup consumer facing technology and healthcare companies, including Seamless Web, Take Care Health Systems, and NutriSystem. Kimmel, who was named one of the “Top Innovators” in the region by Philadelphia magazine, was instrumental in bringing a Microsoft Innovation Center to Philadelphia.

Dan Tropeano is the executive director for UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania and Delaware. In the role, Tropeano is responsible for growing and retaining the United Healthcare member population, establishing market and network strategies, achieving financial targets and acting as a primary interface with key stakeholders. Tropeano has over 20 years of leadership experience in the health and employee benefits industry. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare in 2006, Tropeano served as assistant vice president of Sales with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield for the downstate New York area.

To attend The Pitch, email events@phillymag.com.

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