With less than 2% of venture capital funding going to women‑led companies, the 100 Women Pitch Competition set out to rethink access to capital.  

“Despite the incredible innovation happening among women founders, access to capital remains a significant barrier,” said Candi Block, director of entrepreneurial development at the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) and a co‑founder of 100 Women. “That number has barely moved in decades, and events like this are one small but powerful way we can start to change that narrative.” 

Co‑founded by leaders from the University Center for Economic Development, EDAWN and U.S. Bank, the inaugural event invited 100 women to collectively fund a woman‑owned startup. One hundred women each paid $100 to fund a woman‑owned startup, ultimately raising enough to award both a $10,000 grand prize and a $1,000 People’s Choice Award.  

“We wanted to create an event designed by women, for women, that directly supports women founders in our region,” Ania Calvillo‑Mason, program coordinator for strategic planning and economic development at the University Center for Economic Development, said. “This is deeply personal for us, and it was important to take action, not just during Women’s History Month, but in a way that creates lasting impact.” 

The community‑driven model emphasized collaboration over competition, while creating opportunities for founders to be seen, heard and funded. 

“The competition represents the power of community‑driven support for women entrepreneurs,” said Sandra Fuentes, vice president and small business specialist sales manager at U.S. Bank and a co‑founder of 100 Women. “Events like this create tangible opportunities for founders to be seen, heard and funded, while also fostering collaboration and leadership across Northern Nevada.” 

Fuentes said the event reflects the entrepreneurial spirit she sees across the region. 

“The competition captures the resilience, creativity and determination that define women founders in our region,” she said. “Northern Nevada’s women entrepreneurs are solving real problems, building scalable solutions and doing so with a commitment to community impact.” 

That spirit was on full display as Dr. Chinelo Pearl Nwaogbo, founder of Nelo, earned the competition’s $10,000 grand prize.  

Nelo is a healthcare safety and compliance company focused on preventing needlestick injuries, after more than 15 years of frontline clinical experience as a nurse practitioner. 

“Sharps containers are still passive tools with no real‑time monitoring or accountability,” Nwaogbo said. “They can become overfilled without anyone knowing, putting healthcare workers and patients at risk.” 

“These injuries are not random — they are preventable system failures,” she said. “Nelo was created to transform sharps disposal from a passive process into a proactive, safety‑driven system.” 

Winning the inaugural competition marked a pivotal moment. 

“This recognition felt like validation of the problem we’re solving,” Nwaogbo said. “It pushed me to fully step into my role as a founder and entrepreneur.” 

In addition to the grand prize, Jaclyn Cameron, founder of With Love Beauty Collective, received the $1,000 People’s Choice Award. Cameron’s business focuses on inclusive beauty and wellness, emphasizing conscious care and community-centered values. 

As initiatives like 100 Women continue to grow, Fuentes sees a ripple effect taking shape. 

“They create a pipeline of empowered women leaders who will mentor others, reinvest in their communities and drive sustained economic growth,” she said. “Women entrepreneurs are more likely to reinvest locally, employ locally and build businesses aligned with community needs.”