Empowering the Next Generation of Beverage Alcohol Innovators
Women of the Vine & Spirits was once again proud to present the second annual BCB Brand Accelerator Pitch Competition at Bar Convent Brooklyn 2026.
This groundbreaking platform spotlighted emerging beverage alcohol brands while connecting them with industry leaders, strategic partners, and growth opportunities. The high-energy live pitch event brought together a curated group of emerging and growth-stage brand founders who took the stage to present their brands to a panel of expert judges representing distribution, retail, marketing and PR, consulting, and industry trade.
|
|
The Prize Package
Developed and delivered by Women of the Vine & Spirits in collaboration with our network of dedicated Corporate Members, this unparalleled prize package included access to mentorship, consulting, PR services, distribution support, legal guidance, and industry memberships from leading partners across the
beverage alcohol industry.
The prize package reflected the strength of the WOTVS community as a business network, with industry leaders and organizations from every sector coming together to create real value, expand opportunities, and demonstrate the impact that can be achieved through collaboration.
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
Barnes Beverage Group Three-hour strategic advisory session designed to ensure your brand is built on a strong legal and operational foundation. This working session will focus on the critical legal and structural considerations for early-stage beverage alcohol brands, including corporate formation and governance (with an eye toward investment readiness), launch and distribution planning, and essential brand protections such as trademark strategy, labeling, and regulatory compliance. |
Focused strategic growth engagement designed to help strengthen route to market strategy within the U.S. This engagement will equip the winning brand with practical tools and strategic clarity to accelerate growth in both hospitality and retail channels. Including: Three Strategic Growth Sessions; Route-to-Market & Distributor Readiness Review; and Strategic Growth Summary & Action Plan. |
BCB Brooklyn Credit toward participation in the 2027
|
Double Forte PR Services to include overall assessment of brand positioning in category, including recommendation for engaging media and influencer audiences; An outlined media outreach strategy; One trade press release**; and two rounds of media follow-up and coordination with team for any sample requests by the media. *For a fee, the winner can pay for distribution of the press release over a PR wire service to be managed by Double Forte. |
||
|
DISCUS Complimentary Craft Membership. |
MHW Credit towards importation, distribution, or BrandArc development services. |
Women of the Vine & Spirits Complimentary Associate Corporate Membership to global membership organization. |
Barrel & Bloom
Meet the Judges!
We extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible panel of judges who generously shared their time, expertise, and industry insight during the
2026 BCB Brand Accelerator Pitch Competition.
Thank you for helping champion the next generation of beverage alcohol innovators!
Rawnica Dillingham |
Ryan O’Hara |
Brittany Kaplan |
||
|
|
Caleb Ross |
|
Hana Konheim
Maggie Zeman-
 |
Rico Rico Wins the 2026 BCB Pitch Competition!Four outstanding emerging beverage alcohol brands took the stage to compete in the 2026 BCB Brand Accelerator Pitch Competition:
Each finalist showcased their brand story, business strategy, and vision for future growth before the panel of industry experts. Presentations were evaluated on key criteria including market opportunity, brand differentiation, innovation, and scalability. Following an impressive round of pitches, Rico Rico was named the winner of the 2026 BCB Brand Accelerator Pitch Competition, earning an unparalleled prize package designed to help accelerate the brand's continued growth and success.
|
Want to See More Opportunities Like This?
Let us know if your company would like to be part of future pitch competitions whether as a prize package contributor or as a judge.
Contact Us - Get involved in Future Events!