UW’s IMPACT 307 Announces Fremont County Start-Up Challenge Finalists

IMPACT 307’s 2024 Fremont County Start-Up Challenge Pitch Night will take place Tuesday, April 9, in Room 100 of the Health and Science Building at Central Wyoming College (CWC) in Riverton.

The public is invited to the free event, which starts at 6 p.m. Light snacks and drinks will be provided.

Five local entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a panel of five local judges. The finalists each will be given 20 minutes to make their presentations and answer questions from the judges.

IMPACT 307 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.

“We are very excited to present our five finalists for the 2024 Fremont County Start-Up Challenge,” says Brian Young, IMPACT 307 assistant director to Fremont County. “The business ideas coming from members of the community get stronger and more viable with each passing year. Their innovative business concepts are certain to add job opportunities throughout Fremont County.”

Young, who graduated with a law degree, has more than 20 years of experience with companies, ranging from startups to global corporations. He has held leadership positions at publicly traded corporate entities and founded several small businesses. His background includes governance, taxation and executive management.   

The judges chose the finalists after hearing presentations about their business ideas from a pool of over 40 applicants. The winner(s) receive seed money and other professional resources to help them continue to develop their business ideas and plans, all free of charge.

The five finalist businesses for the 2024 Fremont County Start-Up Challenge Pitch Night are:

-- Burley Boy’s Rustic Furniture, founded by Jim LaVine, is a producer of gun safes concealed in high-end rustic furniture. Target markets include higher-wealth individuals who would like hidden compartments for easy access to firearms.

-- Dinwoody Geospatial & Services LLC, founded by Brian Linton, is an aerial imaging company with a focus on providing services to municipal governments and farmers. It will have a nationally focused geographic information system consulting component as well.

-- Grizzly Lures, founded by Genivee LeClair, is a business that has been serving customers for a couple of years with its unique fishing lures. It looks to expand via its patent-pending ice fishing pole holder concept.

-- Queens of Goodness, founded by Susan Frost, provides locally produced honey that has nutritional elements added. The target market is online customers, coffee shops and retail locations.

-- Yellowstone Spice Co., founded by Scout Fauth, is an existing and successful local company that has seen rapid growth of its existing products. In business for less than two years, the company plans to introduce an innovative hot sauce product aligned with its existing target market.

The Fremont County Start-Up Challenge is a joint effort among UW’s IMPACT 307, the U.S. Economic Development Administration and CWC.

For more information about Pitch Night, call Young at (720) 365-6694 or email byoung13@uwyo.edu.