The Town of Minto and the LaunchIt Business Exploration Centre have wrapped up the 11 th Annual PitchIt
Minto Business Plan Competition and the results are in! The winner of the 2023 competition is Two Pines
Herbals, owned and operated by Lior Sabach-Stewart. Two Pines Herbals is a natural wellness clinic
offering herbal consultations, herbal remedies and reiki sessions as a means to help people reach their
health goals. Two Pines Herbals will be offering services virtually and in person. The PitchIt Minto
Business Plan Competition started in 2012 to grow small businesses in Minto and increase awareness
of the resources available, the competition has grown and evolved over time and this year offered over
$18,000 in cash and prizes.
Director of Economic & Community Development, Belinda Wick-Graham noted that three entries were
received, and all were deemed worthy to move on to submitting full business plans. “We are always
impressed with the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the participants in the PitchIt Program, all should be commended for taking the plunge and participating” said Wick-Graham. The three finalists were: Two Pines Herbals, Sweeter Side Bakery owned by Samantha Moore from Palmerston and Strengthening
Connections Counselling Group owned by Katrina Krieck and Linda Gray from Palmerston.
PitchIt Minto offers prizing for the winner and all finalists as well as a pool of prizing that can be
customized based on the needs of the finalists. Thanks to the support of our generous community
sponsors over $18,000 in cash and prizes has been awarded to the three finalists.
“Saugeen Economic Development Corporation was proud to be a part of the PitchIt! contest, we look for
ways to support new and existing businesses in our catchment area and this is an event that we have
participated in the past and hope to do so in the future. All business participants showed various skill sets and tremendous passion during their pitch to the panel of judges, it made it difficult to select an overall winner. SEDC wishes all the best to each of the PitchIt contestants moving forward and offers our
services and support to all who participated” said Jamie Doherty, Business Community Counsellor with the
Saugeen Economic Development Corporation.
“Being a part of the competition and being a finalist, I had to dive deep into the what, how and how much
of my business. The competition gave me the opportunity to figure this all out. I was lucky to have all the
resources offered in the area including Launchit Business Exploration Centre, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation and the Business Centre of Guelph Wellington that I could tap into, and it played
a huge roll in helping me to write my business plan and figure out my operations and plans for the future. It was a very good experience and I look forward to starting to offer my services to the area in September
and contributing to the wellbeing of the area” said Lior Sabach-Stewart of Two Pines Herbals.
Entrepreneurs are encouraged to watch for the annual PitchIt Competition which launches each year in
the spring. For more details contact Belinda Wick-Graham, Director of Economic & Community Development at belinda@town.minto.on.ca or 519-338-2511 ext. 241.
Two Pines Herbals wins the 2023 PitchIt! Minto Business Plan Competition
