Sometimes you just have to take a chance. On a whim, I applied for the Alibaba CoCreate Pitch Fest—a global startup competition hosted in Las Vegas. BirdieBlue, our small Vermont-based upcycling company, creates bold, functional upcycled bags out of broken ski and snowboard gear. We’re the furthest thing from a mass-produced brand. Honestly, I didn’t think we had a chance.
To my complete shock, out of 10,000 applicants worldwide, BirdieBlue was chosen as one of 70 semi-finalists invited to Las Vegas to pitch live on stage.
Pitching BirdieBlue: From Vermont to the Vegas Stage
The first day in Vegas was all about practice. I must have run through my 90-second business pitch at least 100 times before stepping under the lights. In just a minute and a half, I had to capture why BirdieBlue matters: we transform broken ski and snowboard gear into sustainable bags, we create jobs for Vermonters and U.S. sewists, and we keep thousands of pounds of outdoor apparel waste out of landfills
To my surprise, BirdieBlue advanced to the Top 20 finalists. That meant another round of pitching, this time in front of a celebrity judge panel including Shark Tank judges Daymond John and Lori Greiner, Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, Stephanie Mehta, CEO, Fast Company, and Hollywood actor Simu Liu.
Winning a $40K Prize Package
Standing on that stage was nerve-wracking. I honestly blacked out. But practice (and encouragement from the BirdieBlue community) carried me through.
The result? BirdieBlue was awarded one of the Top 10 prize packages—$40,000 to grow our Vermont small business. This win means new tools, more production capacity, and more sustainable jobs in Vermont.
Wisdom from Shark Tank Judges and Industry Leaders
The highlight went beyond the award. After the final pitches, the celebrity judge panel spent nearly 30 minutes with us. Daymond encouraged us to stay scrappy and resilient. Lori emphasized the power of choosing the right partners (great advice for business and LIFE), and Everette pushed us to keep telling bold, mission-driven stories to build community!
Their advice was priceless, and it affirmed that BirdieBlue is building something bigger than just bags. We’re building a movement.
Why This Win Matters for BirdieBlue
This milestone isn’t just about me. It’s about the BirdieBlue Crew—our community of customers, partners, and supporters. Your encouragement gave me the confidence to step on that stage, and this $40K prize is fuel for hiring more Vermonters, scaling our U.S.-based sewing operations, saving thousands more pounds of gear from landfills, and expanding our collection of upcycled ski bags, fanny packs, and totes.
What’s Next
With the Alibaba CoCreate Pitch Fest prize, we’ll double down on our mission: creating bold, one-of-a-kind bags that prove sustainability and style can go hand in hand.
From Vermont to Vegas and back again, one thing is clear: this community makes BirdieBlue possible. Thank you for cheering us on and believing in the power of upcycling.
xoxo,
Kate
Founder & Chief Upcycler-in-Charge