On March 8, International Women’s Day, Vera Bradley announced its sponsorship of Girl Starter, set to premiere on April 28 on TLC.
The business-genre reality show will follow eight women entrepreneurs, aged 18-24, as they compete for seed-round funding to build their own businesses. Contestants develop companies through ideation, pitching and challenges, all leading up to a grand prize of up to $100,000 of investment and services.
Girl Starter is a transmedia and technology company promoting women in entrepreneurship and business leadership, and Vera Bradley decided to sponsor the competition due to its shared values.
“Girl Starter exemplified this [feminine] spirit as it encourages the next wave of aspiring female entrepreneurs to succeed by providing business counsel and exposure, and for the winner, seed-round funding for her business startup,” said Vera Bradley co-Founder Barbara Baekgaard.
Baekgaard will appear as a guest judge for the show’s fourth episode on May 19.
In addition, Girl Starter will tour 10 cities along the east coast in May and June this summer, seeking auditions for its second season.
