Beyond the Pitch: Ep. 1 – The Heart of Title Nine & Pitchfest
This one feels different. I’m kicking off Beyond the Pitch, a special 4-part series with Title Nine all about their annual Pitchfest — the event that champions women-led businesses through mentorship, purchase orders, and a community that lasts well beyond the event itself.
To launch the series, I recorded inside Title Nine HQ. I got the full tour (yes, there’s a gym on-site, 2 in fact), soaked up the culture, and even unrolled my mat for yoga with the team after recording. It honestly felt like a dream workplace for someone like me, a space where values, movement, and collaboration are built into the everyday.
Episode 1 features Molly Hanks (merchant manager + founder of Pitchfest) and Lisa Gilliland (community & culture manager), and together we dug into the roots of Pitchfest, Title Nine’s unique company culture, and what it really looks like to lead, risk, and own. Watch/listen to the Episode 👇
A Scrappy Idea That Sparked a Movement
Pitchfest didn’t start with a big plan or giant budget. It started with a dinner back in 2018. Molly shared how the idea grew out of conversations with women-owned brands at Outdoor Retailer. Instead of trying to replicate a “Shark Tank” model, Title Nine asked: what would it look like to do this differently?
From that scrappy first event, Pitchfest has become a cornerstone of Title Nine’s culture. Today it’s not just about purchase orders, it’s about mentorship, long-term partnerships, and building a space where women founders can learn from each other.
Fast Fails & Everyday Experiments
One of the most surprising things I learned at HQ? Failure is celebrated. Title Nine has an annual “fast fail” competition where employees share experiments that didn’t go as planned, and what they learned in the process.
As Molly and Lisa explained, it’s not about glossing over mistakes, it’s about making space to learn out loud. Whether it’s a product launch that went sideways or an email campaign that missed the mark, those lessons become fuel for innovation.
“One of our goals every year is to experiment — to try, to fail, and to learn. We even give a cash prize for the best failure.”
That spirit runs through Pitchfest, too. Founders aren’t just pitching; they’re invited to ask hard questions, get candid feedback, and learn directly from Title Nine’s team across finance, merchandising, and marketing.
$75 Million Invested Back Into Women
Numbers aren’t everything, but they matter. Since its founding, Title Nine has invested over $75 million back into women-led businesses, nonprofits, and athletes.
~$73M in purchase orders and vendor partnerships with women-owned brands
~$1.5M in direct support for women in sports (think closing the pay gap for the US Women’s National Soccer Team, or funding grassroots teams in lacrosse and skateboarding)
~$500k+ to women-led nonprofits supporting girls and women in outdoor spaces, politics, and beyond
And it’s not just the big investments. Lisa gave examples of small, everyday choices that reflect their mission — from the tampons stocked in the bathrooms (from women-owned Sequel) to coffee sourced from women-led roasters.
Community Over Competition
Pitchfest isn’t about winners and losers. In fact, Title Nine doesn’t even announce “how many” winners there will be because the goal is to build a community where all of the finalists support each other.
“The most inspiring part isn’t just who wins, it’s the connections that come after. Founders share booths, reps, even hotel rooms. That community is everything.”
As Molly put it: supporting women isn’t just good business, it makes us better at what we do.
Why You’ll Want to Hit Play
✅ Hear the behind-the-scenes origin story of Pitchfest
✅ Learn how failure is reframed as a tool for growth at Title Nine
✅ See what $75M+ invested back into women looks like in action
✅ Get a peek into the everyday culture inside Title Nine HQ
✅ Feel inspired by a company that’s walking the walk, not just talking the talk
Stay Connected
https://www.instagram.com/titlenine/
https://www.titlenine.com/
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