Olaf Growald
Serial entrepreneur Neha Husein is at it again.
The SMU graduate was selected the first winner of the WEDallas inaugural pitch competition, a decision that completed a two-month cohort for women entrepreneurs, officials announced on Monday.
Husein’s latest venture, ZStash, is a free website and mobile app designed for wholesalers and boutique owners to buy, sell, and destash inventory on an all-in-one, secure platform. Prior to creating Zstash, Husein founded Just Drive, an app that rewards undistracted driving that she created after she was rear-ended by a driver who was texting.
For her triumph, Husein was awarded a $1,500 microgrant from Capital One.
Husein was featured in Fort Worth Inc. and Fort Worth Magazine last year. Her father, she said then, was her inspiration.
“My dad really was an entrepreneur,” she said. “He created several businesses, from dollar stores to gas stations. He would bring me a toy register, and I was ringing up orders. I never saw that as entrepreneurship, but looking back, I guess it was.”
WEDallas is a partnership between the DEC Network and Capital One.
Since 2015, WEDallas has featured a series of events and initiatives designed to equip, inspire, and empower women entrepreneurs in North Texas. For the first time, WEDallas hosted a two-month cohort in which female entrepreneurs enjoyed a rigorous curriculum designed to take early stage businesses through the fundamental business concepts every business owner needs.
As a part of this cohort, The DEC Network invited special guest speakers to present on ideation, market research, business structure, and fundraising. Guest speakers included Darlisa Diltz with North Texas Entrepreneur Education and Training Center, Leah Williams with Dala Communications, Carlos White with Husch Blackwell, Claudia France-Hall with Capital One, Laura Baldwin with Golden Seeds and Andrella Thomas with Capital One.
The final week included a pitch competition. Participants presented their concepts to judges, including Alex Hoenich and Demetra Brown of The DEC Network.
The pitch competition was the culmination of a year-long initiative by The DEC Network and Capital One to create engaging and inspiring programming for women entrepreneurs.
During 2021, the two organizations hosted a variety of events, including a May kickoff event targeting “Mompreneurs” where entrepreneur and Season 17 winner of The Bachelor Catherine Lowe served as host. Then, during Dallas Startup Week in August, they shared insights from some of the country’s top thought leaders through the Women of Innovation summit.
“We were inspired by each of the participants in our inaugural WEDallas Cohort and their stories,” Demetra Brown, Senior Director of The DEC Network, says in a statement. “Working with these early stage entrepreneurs through each step of their business process is such a rewarding part of what The DEC Network does, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of amazing partners like Capital One.”
This year’s summit included multiple panel discussions and keynote addresses from Sarah Shadonix, founder and CEO of Scout & Cellar; Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew, vice president of community affairs and strategic alliances at the State Fair of Texas; and Shar Dubey, CEO of Match Group.
“Building and supporting a strong ecosystem of female founders is a key part of the mission of The DEC Network,” said Bill Chinn, CEO of The DEC Network. “WEDallas is a signature initiative of our organization and one of which we are very proud.”
Capital One and The DEC Network are planning now for 2022’s WEDallas series, with a working pipeline of events that include a Women in Tech Summit in February, a Mompreneur Event, Women of Innovation and a second WEDallas Cohort.
“We have to take deliberate actions today to build a future of inclusive economic and cultural prosperity. North Texas has a deep talent pool and we have continued to invest heavily in our own backyard,” Sanjiv Yajnik, President, Financial Services at Capital One said. “Through long-term community partnerships with organizations like The DEC and programs such as WEDallas, we are equipping entrepreneurs with the resources to unleash their highest potential.”