Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA - Bellevue, Washington: Small business technology coalition group "Ignite Washington" announced last week they will be the local host for the 2017 InnovateHer SBA business pitch competition. Women entrepreneurs will once again have a chance to participate and win cash awards to start up and grow their business.

Businesses will vie for a part of over $70,000 in prize money provided to SBA for the InnovateHER competition through a gift from the Sara Blakely Foundation. The event will take place from 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Bellevue City hall on May 16th, 2017.

"Ignite Washington is once again honored to host this competition for the state of Washington." says the Chaitra Vedullapalli chairwoman for Ignite Washington & CMO of Meylah.com. The applicants who are selected to compete will receive pre-competition coaching from IgniteWA and access to its resources. "

Based on the quality of applications so far received, our state will be well represented at the national level." If you are a majority women-owned business, applications are still being accepted. Please apply at https://www.ignitewa.com/innovateher2017, the deadline is no later than May 10th, 2017.

If you are not ready to apply but want to learn and network with other growing women-owned businesses, please come to participate in the event and cheer on the businesses who are pitching. There is no charge to attend the pitch competition and you may register here: http://bit.ly/2q4pXU2

Women-owned companies in Washington state have an economic impact of more than $30 billion, according to American Express's 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses report. "When we support women-owned businesses, we invest in our communities," said Sen. Patty Kuderer D-Bellevue.

The Senator has been a great advocate of entrepreneurship and proponent for IgniteWA. Senator Kuderer will be one of the judges on the panel assessing the pitches. "Women who are empowered to grow their ideas, pursue their passions, and lead others will create innovation in business. Women make up half the workforce, but remain largely underrepresented in board rooms and as business owners. It's past time to change that and InnovateHER is a great way to create more women entrepreneurs."

Salesforce is the presenting sponsor for InnovateHer 2017. Other IgniteWA sponsors include City of Bellevue, Meylah, Lady12s among other leading companies and community associations. If you are interested in sponsoring and contributing to this event, please contact chai ( @ ) meylah dot com

For more information please go to https://www.ignitewa.com/innovateher2017 and SBA.gov 2017 press release.

About IgniteWA
Ignite Washington is a city by city digital equity and readiness initiative for small businesses. Our mission is to help small businesses to increase their digital equity so they have access local and global customers using digital tools. In addition to small businesses in WA state, we also focus on women, veteran, and minority/ethnic-owned businesses. For media or other inquiries please contact Chaitra Dutt at chai ( @ ) meylah dot com.