In September, the stage at Southern Appalachian Brewery filled with energy and fresh ideas during Pitch Party Hendersonville. Entrepreneurs from across the region stepped up to share their visions, and the audience had the chance to vote for their favorites. Among them was Louise Bijesse, whose witty and engaging pitch for HR Buddy—a fractional HR support concept stood out. Her presentation resonated so strongly that she received the Audience Choice Award.

Louise shared that she took the stage to test whether her idea was viable and to see if there was interest. For her, HR Buddy isn’t just another service; it’s a potential new way to grow her business. When she’s ready to move it forward, she plans to partner with a tech developer to build the platform and bring the idea to life.

But this idea didn’t come out of nowhere – It’s rooted in Louise’s career and the business she already runs. As the founder of Uptalent Consulting & Search, she brings decades of experience in talent acquisition and corporate HR to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide, with a special focus on supporting companies across Western North Carolina. Since launching her consultancy in 2022, she has helped clients with everything from onboarding and policy development to executive search and culture building.

Her transition from corporate work to fractional HR consulting was driven by a desire to make HR expertise more accessible. Many small businesses can’t afford a full-time HR leader, yet still face complex compliance, hiring, and workplace challenges. Through Uptalent, Louise fills that gap—offering tailored solutions that allow business owners to focus on growth while ensuring their teams have the structure and support they need.

Louise’s pitch at Hendersonville captured what Pitch Parties are all about: turning real-world challenges into innovative solutions. With Uptalent Consulting, she’s already making an impact by providing small businesses with the HR expertise they need to thrive. And with HR Buddy, she’s exploring how to take that support even further, creating a scalable option that could serve countless entrepreneurs in the future.

Louise’s story is a reminder of Hatch’s mission in action: giving founders the space to share ideas, test them with the community, and uncover new paths for growth. Whether it’s building on what exists or imagining what comes next, moments like these show how local entrepreneurs are shaping the future of business in Western North Carolina.