WISE Women's Business Center Clients Claim Top Prizes at Regional Business Plan Competition

Two entrepreneurs supported by the WISE Women's Business Center at the Whitman School of Management took home top honors at the Institute for Rural Vitality Business Plan Competition at SUNY Cobleskill, claiming first and third place among 19 competitors. 

Brittany Schuler, CEO and founder of Mini Milestones Physical Therapy in Cicero, New York, earned first place and a $15,000 prize. Jessica Rowley, founder of Love and Cupcakes Studio in Utica, New York, claimed third place and an $8,500 prize. Both are graduates of the WISE Accelerate Business Plan Intensive program and were among four WISE clients competing at the event, which was open to graduates of Entrepreneurship Assistance Center programs within the past 12 months. 

The competition required a 10-minute pitch followed by five minutes of Q&A in front of a panel of judges. WISE was welcomed to participate by the Institute for Rural Vitality whose competition, funded by Empire State Development through New York State’s Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EAC), is designed to support entrepreneurs across the Mohawk Valley and surrounding rural communities. 

"This is exactly what WISE programs are all about: elevating and championing entrepreneurs in our community," said Jennifer McGee, program manager at the WISE Women's Business Center, who leads the Accelerate Business Plan Intensive and prepared the competing businesses. "These women embraced the challenge, put in the hard work and competed with remarkable determination. We are thrilled to celebrate their success." 

The WISE Women's Business Center was founded as an initiative of the Whitman School of Management and operates independently from its home at Equitable Tower in downtown Syracuse. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, WISE supports women entrepreneurs in Central New York through counseling, training and programming at every stage of business development. 

"The success of Brittany and Jessica at this competition is a reflection of the incredible work WISE does every day to support women entrepreneurs in our community," said Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. "This is exactly the kind of real-world impact we are proud to be connected to, and a testament to the dedication of the WISE team and the entrepreneurs they serve." 

For more information, visit wisecenter.org.