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Launchpad competition returns for business pitches, networking

PARKERSBURG – A select group of startups, entrepreneurs and new businesses will have an opportunity to show the local business community what they are about with one business winning valuable seed money to develop itself further.

The second annual Launchpad Pitch Competition will be held Tuesday at the Parkersburg Art Center as part of the monthly Business After Hours by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Launchpad is a vehicle for people with a new business less than two years old or have an idea, but need the financial means or investors to make their dream a reality.

The winner of the competition receives $5,000 which can be leveraged for loans to be able to grow the business further.

The competition was organized by Jody Murphy, executive director of the Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce, who brought the idea to the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council. The goal is to develop and promote new business and start-up concepts in the eight-county region covered by the council, which includes Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties.

“This is all being done to promote small businesses around our region,” Murphy said.

Organizers had over 24 applicants for this year’s event. From those, 13 semi-finalists were named.

The semi-finalists are: Bee Haven Supply of Jackson County; 360 Tour Productions of Wood County; Jano Innovations of Wood County; North Bend Climbing Guides of Ritchie County; Pastry & Petals of Ritchie County; Bon Bon’s Cafe/Sistersville Sweets of Tyler County; Hungry Owl of Pleasants County; Taraific Cakes and More of Jackson County; Wonder Valley Farms of Roane County; Appalachian Ice Cream of Jackson County; Catered Whims of Wood County; Crazy Cake Cafe of Wood County; and Vickie’s Birdz of Jackson County.

At the Prelaunch Expo/Business-After-Hours from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, the semi-finalists will have booths set up at the art center to explain and “pitch” their businesses and what they want to do with interested people.

“People can make business contacts, find investors, meet someone with space for business and more,” Murphy said. “A lot of people have benefited.”

The Expo is sponsored by Suddenlink Media, Managers Resource Group and Huntington Bank.

Patrons will receive $10,000 in Fuel Points that can be invested in their favorite ideas. The top two vote-getters with the most Fuel Points, as well as four selected by the committee, will then be invited to make a five-minute pitch in front of the judges panel from 6-8 p.m.

This year’s judges will be Jan Dils of Jan Dils Attorney at Law, Carrie White of WVU Launch Labs, Doug Kreinik of Kreinik Manufacturing, Mike Williams of Xerox and Carma Hanlon with Grogg’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

The Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley was excited to be able to play a role in the event and help bring in the local business community to support new businesses, said Chamber President and CEO Jill Parsons.

“The MOV Chamber is delighted to play a role in the Launchpad event to support entrepreneurs and to connect them to the existing business community,” she said. “This year we incorporated our monthly Business After Hours as the pre-launch social time at the event to allow those interactions to occur.”

Last year’s event had around 60 people attend with Murphy expecting a lot more this year.

Even if they are not chosen as the winner, many businesses may catch the eye of someone who like their ideas or who may want to invest in the business, he said. In interacting with other business people, some of these new entrepreneurs may discover areas they need to work on in improving and growing their businesses.

At last year’s event, businesses were able to network and had entered into partnerships where they have been able to grow and expand their individual businesses.

“We are really excited to watch it all really take off and grow,” Murphy said.

Organizers witnessed many side conversations between the entrepreneurs in attendance and existing businesses, Parsons said.

“Mentor relationships sparked from those interactions as experienced business leaders saw potential in new entrepreneurs,” she said. “Some offered their expertise and services, so it is our hope that those types of conversations will occur again this year.”

Murphy hopes the semi-finalists will make potential contacts and get people interested in their businesses.

“I hope people like what they see which will generate revenue and interest for these businesses,” he said. “I am hoping for potential investment in these businesses.

“I am hoping for a lot of business-to-business connections.”

Launchpad is sponsored by the Regional Council, the Ross Foundation, Suddenlink, Managers Resource Group, Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, the Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce, Huntington Bank, Vision Shared, Ritchie County Economic Development Authority and the city of Parkersburg.

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