Startup CPG Newswire:
Panic Panties Takes First Place in National Pitch Competition

PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Maria Marino for Panic Panties

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 2024) – Panic Panties, the first premium on-the-go underwear brand revolutionizing the accessibility of high-quality, ready-to-wear panties, has claimed first place in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) National Pitch Competition. Sponsored by FedEx, the competition recognizes and supports innovative products and services from female entrepreneurs. More than 1,000 women-owned businesses participated in the multi-round event, culminating in a two-minute pitch and
Q&A session before a live audience and a panel of five corporate judges in Washington, D.C.

As the first-place winner, Panic Panties was awarded a $25,000 prize. Co-founder Maria Marino said the funds will support the bootstrapped company’s expansion into airports, hospitals, hotels, and college campuses. Panic Panties, often called “the perfect spare pair,” are thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of women on the go. Individually wrapped and pre-washed, these ultra-portable, rewearable panties are ideal for travel, emergencies, gym visits, and unexpected situations. With everyday styles, they can be worn immediately in a
pinch or discreetly stored in a purse or travel bag for life’s unpredictable moments.

“Women have enough to worry about without scrambling for a decent pair of panties when life throws a curveball,” Marino said. “Our mission is to make quality, ready-to-wear underwear available in the places women need them most. Just like L’eggs did for pantyhose.”

Earlier this year, Panic Panties went national, launching in the Hair & Fashion Accessories section of 5,000 CVS Pharmacy stores across the country. They are also available in select Walgreens, GoPuff, CIBO Express airport stores, and independent retailers nationwide.

Panic Panties are crafted with premium OEKO-TEX certified fabrics that are free of harmful chemicals and toxins, and include an antimicrobial lining to help prevent bacteria and odor. “All at a price point that won’t make you want to go commando,” Marino quipped. The brand emphasizes sustainability, using carbon-neutral packaging made from recycled materials and funding environmental cleanups. Additionally, their underwear recycling program aims to keep old undies—of any brand—out of landfills.

Inclusivity is a cornerstone of the brand’s philosophy. Each style undergoes rigorous fit testing on real women of various shapes and sizes before production. The brand offers multiple styles in three inclusive size ranges for women sizes 2-26.

Panic Panties also prioritizes giving back. Last year, the company partnered with The Undies Project, a women-owned nonprofit dedicated to providing new underwear to those in need.

For more information or wholesale inquiries, visit panicpanties.com or contact co-founder Katherine Anne Koury at katherineanne@panicpanties.com.

About Panic Panties

Panic Panties, a certified women-owned business founded in 2019 by Syracuse University alumni Maria Marino, Alex Bernstein, and Katherine Anne Koury, emerged from the trio’s shared frustration with the lack of convenient underwear options for women on the go. The brand offers high-quality, portable solutions celebrated for their innovation and style. With over 20 million hashtag views on social media, Panic Panties has earned recognition from Ad Age as a “Brand on the Rise” and been featured in US Weekly, POOSH, Condé Nast Traveler, and more.

If your brand wants to publish a press release on the Startup CPG Newswire,  fill out the form here. 

The news and images contained on this page has been provided by a third party. Startup CPG does not verify, endorse, or vouch for any information or content submitted by third parties, or verify the identity, credentials, or expertise of third parties. We encourage you to consider carefully the source of all information and content provided by third parties on this website.

Join Startup CPG!

Have you joined our *free* Slack community yet? Join the largest CPG community in the world to receive and share on-the-spot advice, industry news and data, and exclusive discounts and opportunities for emerging brands.

If you want to be the first to know about key business updates from the most innovative early CPG brands, sign up for our bi-weekly Newswire roundups here.