Berks LaunchBox proclaims winners of life-style enterprise pitch competitors

Berks LaunchBox has introduced the winners of its 2026 Lifestyle Business Pitch Night.

Berks LaunchBox, a enterprise accelerator initiative supported by Penn State Berks and Berks County’s Imagine Berks Fund, assists early-stage entrepreneurs with enterprise wants resembling prototyping, advertising and marketing and product improvement.

At the pitch competitors in June, members shared their imaginative and prescient, story, and the shoppers they hope to serve whereas competing for prize cash and receiving suggestions from the Berks LaunchBox advisor panel.

The winners are:

First Place, $1,000: Jessica King, ElderCARE Collaborative

ElderCARE Collaborative gives ageing advocacy that empowers households to make assured choices. With greater than 15 years of expertise supporting households via care coordination and sophisticated ageing transitions, Jessica King affords steering rooted in readability, compassion, belief, and respect for every senior grownup’s autonomy, Berks LaunchBox mentioned in a launch.

Second Place, $600: Tom and Kim Chilton, Garden Infuzions

Garden Infuzions creates 200 flavors of handcrafted infused olive oils designed to raise cooking with flavors like New York Pizza, Cilantro-Lime, Philly Cheesesteak, and extra, Berks LaunchBox mentioned. Taste them on the Fairgrounds Farmers Market, alongside the entrance wall between Salino’s and Spring Glen, Thursday via Saturday.

Third Place, $400: Annette Faust, A Box of Berks and Beyond

A Box of Berks and Beyond creates thoughtfully curated reward bins that remember the historical past, tradition, and flavors of Berks County, Reading, and Pennsylvania. Since 2017, Annette Faust has helped prospects ship smiles, native treats, and a style of house via reward baskets that supply a scrumptious various to sending flowers, in accordance with Berks LaunchBox.

“We are grateful to the 12 terrific contestants who prepared excellent pitches and the 13 Berks LaunchBox advisors who served as judges, offering their time, insight, encouragement, and practical feedback to help each entrepreneur move forward,” Berks LaunchBox mentioned.