Sheridan Start-Up Challenge Announces Six Finalists

IMPACT 307, Sheridan’s business incubator, has announced six finalists for the 2021 Sheridan Start-Up Challenge entrepreneur competition.

IMPACT 307, with business incubators in Casper, Laramie and Sheridan, is a business development program of the University of Wyoming. It is administered by UW’s Office of Research and Economic Development.

This year’s challenge attracted 40 applicants, and the top 11 plans were selected for the semifinal round by a panel of local entrepreneur judges. The six finalists will compete to win business funding from the $100,000 seed fund established for the event.

“This is a strong indication of the entrepreneur culture that exists in Sheridan. We have a creative and committed community that supports the development of new ventures,” says Scot Rendall, IMPACT Sheridan director.

The following is a brief summary of each finalist, including the company name, the entrepreneur and the innovative business idea:

-- Brit Schmit LLC, founded by Brittni Schmit, is a line of women’s jumpsuit and romper apparel that overcomes some of the traditional limitations of wearing these garments.

-- Farm to Table Beef Brand/Marketing, founded by Taylor Kerns, is a marketing company that will unite Sheridan-area ranchers under one brand and sell farm-to-table fresh beef products to larger retail outlets.

-- Mitten’s Moisturizer, founded by Kaya Pehringer, is an artisan line of body lotion products made from locally sourced goat’s milk that is healthy for skin and will be marketed throughout the state.

-- Outter Limits, founded by RJ Bungert, is an innovative, durable, go-anywhere lunchbox cooler concept that was devised through years of experience working in Wyoming coal mines.

-- Oyster City Mushroom Farm, founded by Jeremiah Attebury, is a large-scale, year-round gourmet mushroom farm that will provide fresh mushrooms to local and regional markets.

-- SonaPure, founded by Austin Ledingham, is a company that is developing a hearing protection system for dentists, hygienists and staff that focuses on quality, comfort and convenience.

“The semifinal round included a number of quality business ideas, and the judges decided that they wanted to hear follow-on pitches from six finalists on Pitch Night,” says Rendall, who adds that this is the first time the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge will have six finalists in its five-year history.

The finalists will spend the next month working with IMPACT Sheridan to hone their business plans and final pitches. Finalist Pitch Night is scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the WYO Theater in Sheridan. For those who wish to avoid public gatherings, a livestream option to view the program will be offered.

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

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