ATLANTA, GA, November 12, 2024 (EZ Newswire) -- Two startups were named the competition winners at Pitch HearstLab Atlanta, HearstLab ’s pitch event for early stage, women-led technology startups. Five companies were selected as the finalists to present in-person at Google on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Each founder pitched to a live audience and a panel of expert judges, including Eve Burton , Hearst EVP and HearstLab Chairwoman, Lisa Butters , SVP of Strategic Partnerships & Emerging Business, CAMP , and Shila Nieves Burney , founder and managing partner, Zane Venture Fund .
The event included a fireside panel discussion with Monica Delores Hooks , CXO, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs at Rice University, Tara Seppa , National Director, Startups & Digital Native Growth, Google, Tamara Nelson , CEO and co-founder of HearstLab portfolio company, Barometer that was moderated by Kelli Dakake , VP of Engagement & Retention, Hearst Newspapers. The event’s winners were as follows: Croux , founded by Jennifer Ryan , a temporary staffing solution for low income individuals and Zinnia , founded by Lauren Goodell , an AI co-pilot for sales representatives. "We’re very excited to work with HearstLab and the entire team because they come with so much industry expertise and work with brands we know Zinnia can help, partner with, and learn from,” said Lauren Goodell , founder and CEO of Zinnia.
"Investment from HearstLab and Hearst is validation that we’re not only do.