SBA announces Syracuse, Utica InnovateHER winners

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For the Health of It Foods, LLC of Syracuse, which does business as Avocadough, and Daughter for Hire, LLC of Whitesboro are the local winners of a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) entrepreneur competition.

The SBA’s InnovateHER: 2015 Innovating for Women Business Challenge is a nationwide competition for entrepreneurs who are developing products and services that will “enhance” the lives of women and their families, according to an SBA news release.

Tracie Long, president of Avocadough, won the Syracuse competition that the WISE Women’s Business Center hosted on March 26.

WISE is short for Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.

Avocadough creates and sells baked goods and ready-to-bake frozen dough that uses natural and healthier ingredients such as avocados and whole grains.

The company seeks to offer an “alternative that is lower in saturated fats and cholesterol and higher in fiber and healthy fats,” according to the SBA release.

Kathleen Rutishauser and Denise Flihan, co-owners of Daughter for Hire, won the Utica competition that the Women’s Business Center of New York State hosted on March 30.

Daughter for Hire provides “caring, compassionate and dependable non-medical assistance to seniors … allowing them to remain independent for as long as they are able,” the SBA said.

The SBA has forwarded the local winners for consideration in the semi-final round.

An executive committee comprised of SBA officials will review the semi-final nomination packages and select no more than 10 finalists, according to the organization’s news release.

The finalists will compete for a total of $30,000 in prize money provided by Microsoft Corp.  

The 10 finalists will travel to Washington, DC on May 8 where they will pitch their products and ideas to a panel of expert judges during SBA’s National Small Business Week, the agency said. 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com