Businesses from nine Kentucky counties traveled to Pikeville over the weekend to participate in the Invest 606 Demo Day ahead the accelerator's final pitch competition this spring.
The 13 finalists in the cohort, which represent a variety of industries, employ more than 30 people in Eastern Kentucky and generate more than $700,000 in combined revenues for the region.
Invest 606, a business accelerator founded in 2019 by tech entrepreneur Geoff Marietta, supports the cohort with six months of training and services. Upon completion of the accelerator, entrepreneurs will compete for a $15,000 grand prize, $8,000 second place prize and $4,000 third place prize — in addition to thousands of dollars in other cash and in-kind prizes — at a final pitch event on April 23.
To be eligible for the program, the businesses had to be based in the 606 area code. You can watch all of the demo day pitches here.
Here are the 13 finalists:
- Appalachian Horse Project, founded by Ginny Grulke: Located in Knott County, the Appalachian Horse Project expands economic opportunities in Eastern Kentucky by ensuring free-roaming horses continues in a responsible manner.
- Appalachian Quilt & Craft, founded by Carolyn Davis: Located in Perry County, Appalachian Quilt & Craft is inspiring makers and creators, and connecting our community with lovely fabrics, products, and workshops.
- Backroads of Appalachia, founded by Erik Hubbard: Located in Harlan County, Backroads of Appalachia promotes economic development through motorsports in Eastern Kentucky.
- Faith Trust A Little Dust Bakery, founded by Trevor and Samantha Stovall: Located in Floyd County, Faith Trust A Little Dust Bakery brings high quality, made-from-scratch desserts to Eastern Kentucky.
- Graze, founded by Kelli Thompson: Located in Pike County, Graze provides locally sourced produce and healthy goodies for gift giving.
- Hazard Coffee Company, founded by Stephen Prosser: Located in Perry County, Hazard Coffee Company is a premier coffee shop in the Queen City of the Mountains.
- HOME Appalachia, founded by Tasha Sams: Located in Pike County, HOME Appalachia is an early stage startup that exists to provide a safe, welcoming environment for all as a new age community workspace and neighborhood club by day.
- Independent Metal Works LLC, founded by Jesse and Lois White: Located in Floyd County, Independent Metal Works makes cool things out of metal.
- Mountain House Mushrooms, founded by Joshua and Shannon Dahler: Located in Estill County, Mountain House Mushrooms grow and sell gourmet and medicinal mushrooms year round using indoor cultivation methods.
- Positive Attraction Soaps Co., founded by Vickie and Sarah Crabtree: Located in Lee County, Positive Attraction Soaps Co. produces organic botanicals to infuse into handcrafted natural skin safe spa and bath products.
- Read Spotted Newt, founded by Mandi Fugate Sheffel: Located in Perry County, Read Spotted Newt is a place close to home to purchase books, gather, and be inspired.
- Reimagines, founded by Elizabeth Schroer: Located in Pulaski County, Reimagines designs and prints custom decals, static clings, and printables with a focus on classroom decor, educational materials, and children’s products.
- Tipper Valley Farm, founded by Chelsey Mayse: Located in Rowan County, Tipper Valley Farm create and provide all-natural goat milk products including soaps and lotions handcrafted with farm fresh goats milk.
The University of the Cumberlands is a founding partner of Invest 606, alongside the James Graham Brown Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.
