WILMINGTON, Del. - TelAve -- Wilmington, Delaware - Female founders, inventors, and innovators are invited to apply for the Shark Minded Mastermind: Female Founders Pro Pitch Event, set for April 22, 2026, at CSC Station in Wilmington, Delaware.

The pitch event will select eight women-led ventures to present live before investors, venture capital participants, founders, and other business decision-makers. Applications close April 11, 2026, at 8:00 pm ET.

The event is hosted by Joelle Slye Flynn, who appeared on Shark Tank in Season 14, Episode 14, and Professor Nat Measley MPA, founder, entrepreneur, college professor. Created to give female founders access to visibility, connections, and a chance to compete for cash prizes.

The Shark Minded Mastermind: Female Founders Pro Pitch Event is designed to give selected founders a live platform to present their businesses in person at CSC Station in Wilmington. It responds to the ongoing challenge women face in securing startup funding and investor attention. The program is a practical opportunity for female founders to pitch, build relationships, and raise their profile.

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"We created this event so female founders don't just get a seat at the table, they step into the room ready to be seen, heard, and supported by those who can open doors to capital, partnerships, and growth. My goal is simple: ignite the spark within." says Joelle, Founder of FIRE (Female Inventors & Rising Entrepreneurs).

Event details:

• Shark Minded Mastermind: Female Founders Pro Pitch Event
• April 22, 2026
• 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• CSC Station, Wilmington, Delaware
• Application deadline: April 11, 2026, at 8:00 pm ET

CSC Station is within reach of founders, investors, and attendees from the broader Mid-Atlantic and Northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and New York.

What selected founders receive:

• A five-minute live pitch opportunity
• Exposure to investors and business leaders attending the event
• A vendor table to showcase their brand
• Media content captured from their pitch
• Inclusion in a founder gift bag

The winner, selected by the judges, will receive a cash prize of $5,000 grand prize and there will be an audience choice award prize of $1,000.

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"This Wilmington pitch event is about access, giving female founders a strong platform to share their ideas, make connections, and move their businesses forward. We encourage female founders or female owned ventures to participate," said Professor Nat Measley.

To apply and be one of the 8 selected to pitch and exhibit at The Shark Minded Mastermind: Female Founders Pro Pitch Event before 8 pm ET, click here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclDttvVU8V-L4cyFgI8qSadf2D1B9jsmpBKX2VAIuc_3_3KQ/viewform).

About FIRE
The event is powered by F.I.R.E, Female Inventors & Rising Entrepreneurs, a community focused on supporting women who are building businesses, developing inventions, and entering new markets. For more information visit: jointhefire.org (https://www.jointhefire.org/).