Collins, King Applaud Maine Small Business Selected As Finalist In National InnovateHER Challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded Brunswick-based startup Bitzy Baby and its owners, Whitney and Seabren Reeves, for being named one of fifteen finalists in a national competition held by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for entrepreneurs that develop products and services in order to enhance the lives of women and their families.

“Maine startups and small businesses are constantly innovating and helping to propel our economy in the right direction,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “We are very proud that the Reeves and their growing Maine business have been recognized by the SBA, and wish them the best of luck in the national competition.”

Bitzy Baby is a juvenile products company that holds a patent for its safer crib bumper design. Their product, the Bitzy Bumper, is an innovative development in crib safety that provides padding in the crib while reducing the risk of carbon dioxide rebreathing and suffocation. Parents Whitney and Seabren Reeves developed the product after discovering minimal options for crib bumpers as new parents.

The InnovateHER Business Challenge, organized through the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, started in early March with local competitions and will culminate on May 8th with the national competition in Washington D.C. Bitzy Baby won the local challenge hosted by Coastal Enterprise, Inc.’s Women’s Business Center as part of Southern Maine Community College’s Launch or Grow Small Business Success Conference.

The fifteen finalists will pitch their products and services to a panel of expert judges, and will compete for the top three awards and a total of $30,000 in prize money provided by Microsoft.