Five Finalists Chosen for Sheridan Start-Up Challenge Pitch Night

IMPACT 307, Sheridan’s business incubator, has chosen five finalists for the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge entrepreneur competition.

Finalists will make their presentations at Pitch Night beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the WYO Theater, located at 42 N. Main St. in Sheridan. Each finalist has an opportunity to win business funding from the $100,000 seed fund established for the event.

IMPACT 307, with business incubators in various cities around the state, is a business development program of the University of Wyoming. It is a not-for-profit business incubator system that provides startup and early-stage companies with the expertise, networks and tools necessary for the development of successful businesses. It is administered by UW’s Research and Economic Development Division.

“Each year, there are a number of intriguing business ideas submitted for consideration by Sheridan-area residents,” says Scot Rendall, IMPACT Sheridan director. “Out of this process, founders launching new ventures will continue to help our local economy and provide products and services that address needs locally, regionally and, in many cases, nationwide.”

The following is a summary of the finalists, including the company names, the entrepreneurs and their business ideas:

-- IXNAY, founded by Anna Bailey, is a phone app that will provide on-the-spot information about food content and alert users to any ingredients that are harmful or not preferred for consumption.

-- Big Horn Records, founded by Shawn Day, is a record label company set up to represent and promote emerging and established “Wyoming-grown” music artists.

-- Pilot Project Solutions, founded by Bret Noecker, is working to develop and deploy a waste-to-product operation to convert plastic and municipal waste into valuable carbon products such as graphite or graphene.

-- NotFoundBot, founded by Travis Todd, is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence-powered redirection to assist e-commerce internet users experiencing “404 not found” errors.

-- Van Dorsten Custom Firearms, founded by Scott Van Dorsten, is an innovative design company of a scout rifle-scope mount that can be used to convert a bolt-action rifle to a scout rifle, and other firearm accessories.

This year’s challenge attracted 35 applicants representing a wide variety of business ideas that would serve Sheridan and the region. A judging panel composed of area entrepreneurs and business consultants reviewed the applications and selected 11 plans for a semifinal round that was held Sept. 28-29. The semifinalists had the opportunity to present their ideas and meet the judges in person. The panel then selected the five finalists.

The finalists will spend the next month working with IMPACT 307 to continue development of their plans and respond to judges’ questions and feedback that were provided during the semifinal round. In addition to the possibility of seed funding, Pitch Night will allow the finalists to showcase and promote their ideas to a live audience. Livestreaming of the event will be offered by Sheridan Media for those community members not able to attend in person.

The Sheridan Start-Up Challenge is made possible through the support of Sheridan County, the city of Sheridan, the Wyoming Business Council, and the Homer and Mildred Scott Foundation.

For more information, call Rendall at (307) 675-1939 or email srendall@uwyo.edu.