Five Visionary Women, One Stage: Meet the Finalists of the 2025 Trailblazers Pitch Competition

The California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, CalAsian Foundation, and NationalACE is proud to introduce the finalists of the 2025 Trailblazers: Women Innovators Pitch Competition—five bold, community-driven entrepreneurs from across the country who are building the future through innovation and impact.

From revolutionizing period care, pizza, and children’s clothing to transforming AI education and sustainable floristry, these women-led businesses are reshaping their industries and uplifting the communities they serve.

On August 1, 2025, these inspiring founders will pitch live in Irvine, CA for a chance to win funding, resources, and recognition to help grow their ventures. The event is free and open to the public, offering attendees a powerful evening of stories, connection, and women-led innovation.

Meet the 2025 Finalists:

 

 

Amber Ivey – Founder of AiDigiTales (Washington, DC – Baltimore area)

Amber founded AiDigiTales to make AI literacy accessible and fun for kids through interactive children’s books, biweekly podcasts that simplify complex AI topics, AI Activity Decks for screen-free learning, and workshops for students and teachers.

Charlyn Bender – Founder of Avarie Femcare (Los Angeles, CA)

Charlyn is a former Deputy District Attorney turned entrepreneur, on a mission to revolutionize period care with Avarie Femcare. Founded in 2022, Avarie Femcare is a newly launched feminine health and hygiene company focused on providing women with better period products. Her company offers high-performance, inclusive products and a digital platform aimed at education and community.

Kanna Ecklund – Founder of ASAICHI (San Diego, CA) 

Founded out of a passion for floral design and a commitment to health and the environment, Kanna is a third-generation florist who founded ASAICHI (formerly GreenGrip), a plant-based alternative to toxic floral foam, inspired by the loss of her grandfather, whose illness may have been tied to long-term chemical exposure. She developed an eco-friendly foam to eliminate the risks associated with traditional floral foam.

Melody Stein – Co-Founder of Pi00a (Los Angeles, CA)

Melody and her husband Russ launched their first pizza restaurant in 2011, creating job opportunities for the Deaf community and promoting a fully ASL-accessible workplace. Today, they run Pi00a, a frozen pizza brand blending Neapolitan tradition with Asian-inspired flavors. “We saw a gap in the frozen pizza category… while also creating job opportunities for the Deaf community, who too often face barriers to employment.” 

Valerie Bernal – Founder of Parker and Talia (New York City, NY)

Valerie founded Parker and Talia after combining her two passions, fashion and her love of being a mom. With 20 years in the industry, she launched the clothing brand, offering soft, simple, sensory-safe clothes for neurodiverse kids that helps build a supportive community for families like mine. A portion of every sale even helps fund pediatric mental health programs, because comfort goes beyond clothing.

See Them Pitch LIVE!

Don’t miss your chance to experience the energy and ingenuity of these visionary founders at the Trailblazers: Women Innovators Pitch Competition on Thursday, August 1st from 5:00–8:00 PM at UCI Beall Applied Innovation at the Cove in Irvine, CA.

Meet the finalists, hear their stories, and see them pitch their businesses to a panel of esteemed judges. This event is your front-row seat to the future of women-led entrepreneurship.

Admission is free—reserve your spot today!