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Desserts & More Early Bird Registration is Open!

Vie by Cescaphe, 600 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia PA

Thursday, October 16th, 2025 | 5:30 PM-9:00 PM

Join for THE social event of the year for women entrepreneurs — and

WBEC-East’s 30th anniversary! Desserts & More is a formal evening of networking, celebration, and sweet treats, bringing together entrepreneurs, corporate sponsors, and community partners. We'll honor our award winners, showcase successful business owners, and raise funds to support WBEC-East’s mission to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs. Enjoy a dessert buffet from local women-owned businesses — all while celebrating 30 years of impact and supporting the future of entrepreneurs.

Nominations for our 30th Anniversary 2025 WBEC-East Annual Awards Program are Now Open! We’re thrilled to announce that nominations and applications are now open for two prestigious awards recognizing outstanding achievement within the WBEC-East community. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, it’s the perfect time to honor the clients, suppliers, or even your own company that have made a lasting impact. Submit a nomination and help us recognize excellence during this milestone celebration!

Early Bird Tickets: $210 

(Deadline is midnight on 8/30)

Event Tickets: $250

The Generational WBE Award + Supplier Innovation & Partnership Excellence Award

Third Annual Capital One Pitch Competition

The Deadline for Submitting Your Pitch is Tuesday, July 8th

Interested in pitching your business idea or what is next for your current business? In partnership with Capital One, WBEC-East is excited to host our third Women’s Business Center Pitch Competition! See below for more details and instructions for submitting your pitch video. The first place winner, will receive $8,500, the second place recipient will receive $4,500, and the third place recipient will receive $2,000. The portal for submitting your pitch video will close at 11:59pm on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025. Semi-finalists will be announced on July 14th.

Rounds – 1 and 2

Round 1: 90-Second Video Submissions – will close July 8th.

Round 2: Live, 2-minute, in-person pitch on August 27th from 6-8pm at Capital One

Café in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia

EMSDC and WBEC-East Presents:

Ask the Experts, Corporate Engagement Masterclass Series

Session 2: Decoding Corporate Needs & Unveiling Your Strengths

Wednesday, July 23rd | 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Join EMSDC and WBEC-East for the second session of our masterclass in Corporate Engagement. In this 60-minute panel discussion anchored by Dr. Lee Lewis and Vicki Daniels and moderated by Liz Walsh, learn how to conduct research on corporate needs, capabilities, and performing a realistic self-assessment of strengths.

If you're ready to break barriers and open new doors for your business, then register today for this free, virtual panel—a game-changing experience for business owners looking to connect with top procurement professionals from leading corporations.

Delaware Supplier Conference + Meet & Greets

University of Delaware, Newark, DE

Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 | 8:30 AM-3:30 PM

You're invited to a full day of insight, connection, and opportunity at our Business Networking & Procurement Event!

Kicking off with a Fireside Chat Panel and targeted breakout sessions, this event is designed to bring business owners and procurement professionals together in a dynamic and engaging environment. Enjoy a networking luncheon paired with a keynote speaker, and wrap up the day with four rounds of focused Meet & Greet sessions designed to spark valuable conversations and partnerships. Don’t miss this chance to showcase your business, learn from industry leaders, and build meaningful connections that drive growth.

Certified May 2025

Adhering to the Service Contract Act on Federal Projects Webinar

July 15th from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Virtual



This webinar covers common SCA issues for small business employers, such as understanding wage determinations, fringe benefits, hours worked and paid sick leave requirements.

Rebuild Diverse Business - QuickBooks for Construction Clinic

July 17th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Virtual

The City of Philadelphia's Rebuild Diverse Business QuickBooks for Construction Clinic is an intensive online clinic where a Construction CPA will help you set up QuickBooks for your construction company.

2025 Doing Business with DRPA A.C.E. Series

June 13th from 8:30 - 11:00 AM | Camden, NJ



Join us for this FREE event series created for M/W/S/DBE certified firms to enhance best practices and learn how to do business with DRPA.

Regional Round WBENCPitch

Round one opens Aug. 1st, 2025 | Pitches must be submitted by Aug. 29th

The 2025 WBENCPitch Accelerate competition is focused on storytelling and impact. In this ever-changing business landscape, it is critical now more than ever for business owners to effectively communicate beyond their capabilities or the problem they solve.