In June, we announced our first Capital and Catalyst grant – aimed toward supporting women business owners in the food and beverage space. Last week, our internal team of volunteers listened to five amazing brands pitch their companies and gave their feedback to Heather and Robert, who had the tough job of making the final decision.
Below is the official press release!
Spearhead Global and the Enthuse Foundation are proud to announce that Ashley Xie and Hedy Yu founders of Rooted Fare were selected as the recipients of the inaugural Capital + Catalyst Grant, a $40,000 award designed to accelerate women-led innovation in the food and beverage industry.
The winner was chosen following a live pitch event on September 11, 2025, where five finalists presented their businesses to the Spearhead Global team. After careful deliberation, Rooted Fare was selected for the potential Spearhead sees in the brand and the opportunity that Spearhead Global’s team can positively impact the business. In addition to the grant, Xie and Yu will receive tailored mentorship and business support from Spearhead Global.
“We made the decision to award the grant to Rooted Fare based on their innovative and sustainable practices for scaling their business, the dedication of the founders, and the absolutely delicious product. This is also a nod to the support of our friends and business partners in China, without whom, Spearhead could not be what it is today.”
“Through Capital + Catalyst, our goal is to pair financial support with the kind of guidance and industry access that can be game-changing for a founder,” said Kim Lawton, Co-Founder of the Enthuse Foundation. “We’re thrilled to celebrate Rooted Fare and look forward to seeing the impact Ashley Xie and Hedy Yu will make.”
The other four finalists were also recognized and selected to pitch for their innovative approaches and strong growth potential:
- Nikki Seaman, Freestyle Snacks
- Chloe Bergson & Alison Evans, Sayso
- Holly Arbuckle, Singing Pastures
- Orleatha Smith, Sip Herbals
The Capital + Catalyst Grant launched in 2025 to provide women entrepreneurs in food and beverage with capital to scale their businesses and mentorship to support long-term growth.
For more information, visit www.enthusefoundation.org/capital-catalyst
About Spearhead Global
Co-Founded by CEO Heather Fritzsche and CINO Robert Catalano, and headquartered in Yardley, Pennsylvania, Spearhead Global is a certified Women Owned Enterprise Business. Spearhead Global is a leader in packaging innovation for spirits and beverage brands for primary and secondary packaging solutions. The company focuses on designing sustainably though in-house R&D and helping brands stand out on shelf. Spearhead also show support for their local community through their Yardley based non-profit Spearhead Project Earth.
About the Enthuse Foundation
The Enthuse Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through education, capital, and community-building. For more information, visit www.enthusefoundation.org.