CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Haley Marie McClain Hill is an entrepreneur, Air Force veteran and former NFL cheerleader. But before she was any of those things, McClain Hill was a Penn State student.
McClain Hill shared stories from her own incredible personal and professional journey during a recent presentation to Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox Ladies. Drawing on her own inner fortitude and inspired by her strong-willed grandmother, McClain Hill attended Penn State, where she majored in mathematics and joined ROTC. Her military service served as a springboard for her civilian career, she said.
Recognizing a need for more form-fitting undergarments for women in the military, McClain Hill said, she launched TORCH Warriorwear. She took her business pitch all the way to the TV show "Shark Tank" and secured funding from one of the judges, investor Lori Greiner.
McClain Hill shared her successful pitch with the LaunchBox Ladies audience, which she calls her SUNLIFE script and has utilized in three additional pitch competitions besides "Shark Tank":
- Sharing your personal story
- Describing the problem
- Amplifying the problem
- Introducing your solution (the product)
- Explaining the company and forward-looking goals
- Demonstrating why you are the best person to lead the business
- If pitching for funding, clearly outlining how you will use the money
- Wrapping up creatively and memorably
McClain Hill also gave tips on preparing for questions. Pitch judges typically ask questions about four main areas: the founder, operations, finances and marketing.
“She was just fabulous,” said Cindy Evans, LaunchBox director of business development. “She was so genuine and authentic, and her presentation was so engaging and interactive. We were incredibly fortunate to have Haley come in. Some other LaunchBoxes are offering her presentation via Zoom.“
Evans pointed out McClain Hill stayed beyond the time allotted and spent an additional 90 minutes mentoring a few PSU-LV students interested in starting their own businesses.
One of the students, second-year biology major Isabella Watson, has started Crimson Claws, a press-on nail business with Crimson Shiller, business partner and girlfriend. She jumped at the chance to have a 1-on-1 with McClain Hill after the presentation.
“We talked about identifying a target audience and growing an online business," Watson said. "She gave us a lot of tips on how to stand out in a market that has some competition but isn’t totally saturated.”
Watson and Shiller said their goal for Crimson Claws is to be fully operational online, but to build up their clientele through outreach events until they gain traction in the digital space. The business’ mission is to offer affordable nails for inclusivity, with a focus on pop culture and custom nail art. Watson said she feels their products are natural fits for gatherings like bachelorette parties and Galentine’s Day events.
“We want to offer sets at different price points and be inclusive to everyone. We’ll create something that stands out for you and how you want to carry yourself,” Watson said.