Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge Announces Three Winners

IMPACT 307, Wyoming’s business incubator network, and Energy Capital Economic Development have chosen three winners for the first-ever Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge entrepreneur competition.

Five finalists made their presentations during Pitch Night Dec. 12 at the Gillette College main building presentation hall.

IMPACT 307, with business incubators in various cities around the state, is a business development program of the University of Wyoming and a part of the state’s Business Resource Network. The not-for-profit business incubator system 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.

“The Gillette and Campbell County community embraced this event created to stimulate startup entrepreneurial activity in northeast Wyoming,” says Scot Rendall, IMPACT Sheridan director. “The judges were very impressed by all five presentations and hope that each founder will be successful in launching and growing operations.”

Winners selected by the panel were:

-- Ag Innovations, founded by Shondah and Randall Otwell, is the creator of a low-power, water-rippling product that keeps stock tank water open for livestock in extreme winter temperatures to support ranching and agriculture industries.

-- Baldacci Guitars, founded by Conner Baldacci, is a startup manufacturer of high-quality, custom electric guitars that allow guitar players and tour artists to achieve a range of sounds without having to swap out different guitars.

-- Wind Turbine Blade Recycling, founded by Cameron and Jess Anderson, is a company that will recycle wind turbine blades that have reached end of life and produce usable materials as an alternative to landfill disposal.

Additionally, Baldacci Guitars was named winner of the $1,000 Audience Choice Award from votes submitted by live audience and livestream viewers.

Each of the Pitch Night winners will receive $5,000 and will be eligible to apply for additional funding from the balance of the $50,000 Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge seed fund. The judging panel will reconvene in February with the three winning companies to review progress made on business plans and consider funding requests that will help advance the progress of all three winners.

Rather Be Fishing Tackle, founded by Ray Bergeman, and Inflatrix, founded by Mark Thoreson, were the other finalists that presented their plans.

This initial edition of the Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge attracted 36 applicants. From that list, the judging panel selected nine plans to advance to the November semifinal round before selecting the five teams that presented at Pitch Night.

Four community judges served on the panel that selected the three winners. The panel members were Toni Bell, owner of A.B.C. CPA PC; Sam Clikeman, owner of Big Lost Meadery & Brewery; Kevin Couch, a commercial loan officer at Pinnacle Bank; and Lance Walker, an estimator at Powder River Construction Inc.   

Energy Capital Economic Development was instrumental in raising the seed fund for the event, receiving contributions from several local businesses and Campbell County. IMPACT 307 partnered with Energy Capital Economic Development and the Gillette FUEL Business Incubator Program to bring this entrepreneur competition to northeast Wyoming.

Energy Capital Economic Development is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to stimulate and facilitate a diverse economy through business retention, expansion and recruitment. The corporation runs the Gillette FUEL Business Incubator Program that assists entrepreneurs to start, run and grow small businesses.

“We believe the success of the Start-Up Challenge will spark enthusiasm and interest in making this an annual event that can showcase the entrepreneurial talent that exists in our community,” says Dana Miller, a member of the Energy Capital Economic Development Board and local coordinator of the event.

For anyone interested in viewing the Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge program, go to the livestream recording at www.youtube.com/watch?v=33c9EMVdHMA.

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