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Uinta County honors Rise & Thrive pitch winners; first prize to local sign manufacturer
Summary
Uinta County Economic Development reported results of the fifth annual Rise & Thrive business speed-pitch competition: first prize $12,000 to Wackasign, second $7,000 to KD Sanitation, third $4,000 to Dyno Outfitters; 35 applications and 27 preliminary-round competitors were reported.
Travis Campbell of Uinta County Economic Development reported on the fifth annual Rise & Thrive business speed-pitch competition, summarizing participation, selection processes and prizes awarded.
Campbell said the program gives entrepreneurs three minutes to pitch to five judges, followed by three minutes of questions. The competition is organized by county economic development in partnership with the Vernal Innovation Hub and funded by a grant from the governor’s office of economic opportunity (GOEO). Campbell said the grant covers administrative costs and the prize package; first place receives $12,000, second $7,000 and third $4,000. Additional in-kind prizes included advertising credits from local media, internet service from Strata Networks, scholarships from UBTEC, market booth space and Chamber of Commerce memberships.
Campbell reported 35 applications were received and 27 contestants competed in preliminary rounds; organizers selected a top 10 for the March 27 final. The final attracted more than 200 members of the public, who also chose a People’s Choice winner.
Winners announced by Campbell: • First place: Seth Taylor, Wackasign — a patented, T-post-mountable customizable sign; prize intended to buy equipment to manufacture signs locally. • Second place: Dalton Reynolds, KD Sanitation — a residential trash collection service offering curbside handling and can-cleaning; prize to go toward purchase of a garbage truck. • Third place: Amber Toler, Dyno Outfitters — outdoor gear and guide service focused on rock- and via-ferrata climbing; prize to purchase rental and guiding equipment.
Campbell said the office will follow up with winners to ensure prize funding is used as proposed and will document participants’ progress in annual recaps. He also noted that winners may be eligible to participate in a state-level pitch program run by GOEO, including technology-focused competitions.
Campbell answered commissioners’ questions about eligibility for state competitions and follow-up support.
