Startup CPG Newswire:
Enthuse Foundation Names DEFI Snacks Grand Prize Winner and Bake Me Healthy Runner-Up in 7th Annual Women Founders Pitch Competition
PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Tatyana Jones for DEFI Snacks
CHATHAM, NJ (2025) — In a groundbreaking moment for women-led CPG, the Enthuse Foundation crowned DEFI Snacks as Grand Prize Winner and Bake Me Healthy as Runner-Up in its 7th Annual Pitch Competition. From well over 300 visionary applicants, these two brands emerged as forces looking at indulgence, equity, and sustainability with a new lens—claiming $25,000 in combined cash and over $200,0000 in-kind prizes to accelerate their ascent.
The finale unfolded on November 6, 2025 at The Town Hall by Skylight in NYC, where five finalists captivated a powerhouse judging panel:
Deepa Gandhi, Executive Chair, Dagne Dover
Eugene Khabensky, VP Innovation, Diageo
Nicole Angel Wachter, Founder & Managing Partner, Angel Ventures NYC
Claudia Schubert, Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Finalists included Krave Cocktail Seltzer (Rachel Ransom, Aliyah N., Angel Hobbs, MBA), BEJOU (Carolina Lopez), and Pink Salt Kitchens (Palita Sriratana). Krave Cocktail Seltzer won the Audience Choice Award, sponsored by Kendra Scott and Launch Grow Exit, unlocking Hummingbirds UGC access and EmergeCPG’s one-year Learning Pass.
Special recognition to Carolina Lopez of BEJOU and Palita Sriratana of Pink Salt Kitchens for their outstanding presentations and leadership as visionary female founders.
“DEFI Snacks and Bake Me Healthy embody the fearless innovation we champion,” said Kim Lawton, Enthuse Co-Founder. “This cause is urgent: women receive just 2% of VC funding. Since 2019, we’ve invested over $1M to fuel equity, community, and breakthrough brands that reshape CPG.”Sponsored by Amazon’s “Support Small” pop-up, the event amplified global momentum.
About Enthuse Foundation: A nonprofit empowering women founders with grants, mentorship, and community to dominate CPG and build generational wealth.
About DEFI Snacks
DEFI Snacks, a new woman-led powerhouse, delivers 25g+ clean protein in gluten-free, grain-free chocolate bites fueled by sprouted organic buckwheat, casein and whey crisps. Donating 1% of profits to female entrepreneurs, DEFI shatters the “healthy = boring” myth while disrupting the $27B protein chocolate market.
Bake Me Healthy is an allergy-friendly, sustainable baking brand bringing joy in every bite. Crafted with upcycled ingredients, their baking mixes and cookies are gluten-free, vegan, and top 9 Allergen-Free, ensuring everyone can indulge safely and sustainably.
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.
