Start-Up Business Program, the Pittsburgh Business Pitch, Crowns First Winner at the 2018 Pittsburgh Business Show

Gypsy Artistry, a traveling art studio that offers pop-up style art and crafting services, won the First Annual Pittsburgh Business Pitch competition at the Pittsburgh Business Show, the largest business-for-business trade show and networking event in the city, held in April 2018 at the David L. Lawrence Convention center.

Tanya Bashor, founder of Gypsy Artistry, will now receive support and services from generous business sponsors including Higher Images, Dollar Bank, HRT Solutions, Fyre, INC, Steel This Mag, Quantum Source, Print Tech, and Elliot & Davis.

The Pittsburgh Business Pitch is a 10-county wide competition for western Pennsylvania start-up businesses and concepts. A call for entries garnered dozens of nominations, and six finalists were chosen to present their business ideas at the Pittsburgh Business Show to attendees, exhibitors, and Pitch sponsors. Votes were cast using a text-to-vote system that is sponsored by Fyre Inc., a Pittsburgh-based company that provides solutions for businesses with mobile marketing needs. The finalists were invited to share their ideas on social media to gain more votes from the community, friends, business executives, and investors.

Gypsy Artistry, founded in January 2018, is a traveling art studio that focuses on taking the hassle and fear out of crafting, ensuring a stress-free crafting experience with all materials and instructions provided. The business runs workshops around Pittsburgh at various locations and partners with local venues such as bars, wineries, and coffee shops. Tanya also customizes projects for private parties and fundraisers. Workshop offerings vary with what is trending and may include seasonal crafts, paper crafts, mixed media art, and floral crafts.

“Winning the Pittsburgh Business Pitch is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an entrepreneur like me who is just starting her business. During the Pittsburgh Business Show, I was able to connect with hundreds of people who listened to my business pitch. They offered suggestions, praised my idea, and were a wonderful source of information and inspiration. I believe that this business is what I was meant to do – I’ve never been more passionate about anything I’ve done before. I’m so thankful for the support and services I’m receiving from the Pittsburgh Business Pitch sponsors,” said Tanya.

“The Pittsburgh Business Show is so excited to announce Gypsy Artistry as the first winner of the Pittsburgh Business Pitch competition,” said Linda Jo Thornberg, President of the Show. “Pittsburgh is a great place to start a business, and our Pitch sponsors, as well as our passionate entrepreneurial community, will help connect Gypsy Artistry to the resources needed to be successful. Tanya is at the start of what I know will be an amazing journey.”

Nominations for the 2019 Pittsburgh Business Pitch can be registered at www.PittsburghBusinessShow.com beginning on January 1, 2019. Twelve finalists will be chosen, and they will give presentations to Pitch sponsors and attendees during the third annual Pittsburgh Business Show on May 14-15, 2019, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.