With tools and skills gained through an intense, 12-week business mentoring program, entrepreneurs of nine area businesses will compete for seed grants by making a 4-minute pitch to a panel of judges 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 in the auditorium of the SC Johnson integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center, 2320 Renaissance Blvd.
The top entrepreneur will receive a $5,000 seed grant, second place a $4,000 seed grant and third place a $3,000 seed grant. The remaining entrepreneurs will receive $2,500 each. The entrepreneurs are part of Gateway’s Launch Box Accelerator Program, an effort to help them to start or grow their business.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in June awarded Gateway a grant to support the program.
The area entrepreneurs took part in the program to help them grow their business, such as working on revenue models, customer surveys, prototypes and working to make sure their business is profitable.
Launch Box hosted the accelerator program and offered such resources as prototyping at the Fab Lab housed at Gateway’s SC Johnson iMET Center in Sturtevant, connecting with area entrepreneurs and providing business space at its facility.
The entrepreneurs, and their businesses, who will compete are:
- Big Sky Design, Kelly Kruse, Kenosha
- B’ssert, LLC, Rochelle Schmidt, Kenosha
- CAH Promotions, Chad Hensiak, Burlington
- Covered Care, Donisha Nesbitt, Sturtevant
- Lifebook Builder, LLC, Miranda Rochol, Racine
- Liquid Code Studios, Douglas Beeson, Union Grove
- Medscrub Inc., Anthony Talamonti, Kenosha
- Taste David’s Kitchen, David Shabazz, Racine
- Wee Tinkers, LaTonya Sims, Racine
For more information, please contact Stacia Thompson at (262) 564-3076.
