SoFresh Inc., a Pleasant Prairie-based startup that developed food packaging materials designed to extend the shelf life of foods like bread and fruits, recently won $500,000 at the Grow-NY business competition for innovative food and agriculture technology companies.
SoFresh, founded in 2018, was one of 260 companies from 27 different countries to apply for the competition and one of 20 finalists selected to pitch virtually. The company was one of two to receive the $500,000 grand prize.
The competition is funded by the governor of New York's Upstate Revitalization Initiative and is administered by Cornell University. Companies were judged on viability, customer value, innovation, regional job creation and its company staff.
Meanwhile, six Wisconsin-based startups are advancing to a regional pitch competition hosted by New North Inc., the nonprofit economic development corporation serving the northeast Wisconsin region. The nonprofit, in conjunction with Milwaukee's Brightstar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. and Wisconsin Business Development Inc. in Madison, recently hosted qualifying pitch competitions in Brown, Door, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marinette, Outagamie, Winnebago and Sheboygan counties. The top two winners from each qualifying event received cash prizes, $1,000 cash for first place and $500 for second place.
Here were the winners:
- ($1,000) Experienced Associates LLC, (Chad Hendricks): The company works with trucking companies to hire international truck drivers with a minimum of 10 years of experience, using employer-sponsored visas.
- ($1,000) Pure and Complete Phonics LLC (Shawn Robinson): The firm is developing an engaging, game-based spelling and reading application for students with dyslexia that is authentic, realistic and culturally responsive.
- ($1,000) Debtle (Stephanie Hoskins): The company tackles the consumer debt crisis by helping companies and their customers negotiate and settle overdue invoices through a cloud-based platform, scalable to any size business, that automates, improves and simplifies the negotiation of bad debt accounts.
- ($500) Sheboatin’ Manufacturing (Justin Vannieuwenhoven): Sheboatin' creates and manufactures innovative and affordable pedal tavern boats for entrepreneurs who want to bring more fun to their community, no matter its size.
- ($500) Tempo (Alex Hunt): Tempo serves high-risk patients that need laboratory specimens collected in the comfort and security of their homes, then delivers the collection to a lab of their ordering provider’s choice, ensuring fast results.
- ($500) Lovin' The Skin I’m In (Rhonda Chandler): A community organization with the goal of empowering and uplifting girls of color (ages 7-18) in Northeast Wisconsin while developing their talents, gifts and leadership skills.
The top two winners advance to the New Launch Alliance Hatch Event on Dec. 3, where they will compete for $3,000 for first place, and $2,000 for second place. The winners will be invited to pitch again at the New North Summit, held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, in March 2021.
