Pitch Day 2025
SHIA is proud to announce the launch of PITCH DAY, a mentoring program where aspiring chefs in the DMV area can pitch their first-time restaurant concept in front of veteran chefs and potential investors. Together with our program partner, Chase Sapphire, this program is meant to be a practice training session to build financial literacy and skills for fund raising.
For PITCH DAY, SHIA will select three female DMV chefs for this program. During their three-month journey, they will receive industry partner programs that will help them hone their pitch, and the winning presenter will win a $5,000 to help fund their goals.
"When we talk about empowerment and uplifting women in our industry, I believe that the most impactful piece of the puzzle is access to capital and funding. Being able to pitch your concept to a potential investor is the single most important skill that a young entrepreneur can have and yet it is still not taught in any culinary school or university and it is not something you can learn staging at a Michelin star restaurant. We want to teach this skill to young chefs in the DMV area who are at the stage in their career where they want to take the next step to raising funds but have not had experience doing it before." - Chef Edward Lee
To apply for this program, please click the application link below and submit before March 11, 2025.
