Virginia Ellen, founder of Hangout for Art, received the Grand Prize during the June 24 event at Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley.

According to Penn State Lehigh Valley, the competition featured five women entrepreneurs who presented their businesses to regional business leaders for feedback and funding.

Ellen received $2,500 and 2026 tax preparation services for the Grand Prize. She also won the Audience Choice Award, which came with another $1,000 through audience voting.

Hangout for Art operates from a studio on Hamilton Boulevard in Allentown and offers workshops, networking gatherings and team-building.

April Schiel, founder of Empowering Transit, earned the Runner-Up Award and a $1,500 prize.

Each finalist gave a five-minute business pitch, followed by up to five minutes of questions from judges. Competitors were scored on their business idea, market opportunity, business model, presentation skills and answers during the question-and-answer portion.

Per Penn State Lehigh Valley, finalists included Ali “Amac” McGuire of Amaculent Mindset, Schiel of Empowering Transit, Lisa Pammer of Green Pond Packaging, Ellen of Hangout for Art and Donna Boden of The Happy Mixer.

Judges represented communications, branding, entrepreneurship, finance, economic development and small business strategy. They included Deb Colitas of FocusPoint Communications, Tasemere Gathers of DMFirm LLC, Edith Gutierrez-Hawbaker of TLJ Creative Group, Katie Kupstas of ICW Capital and Rachael Wolfe of the Kutztown Small Business Development Center.

The event also included networking opportunities, vendor exhibits from current and previous LaunchBox Ladies participants, and a business update from the 2025 grand prize winner.


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