Door, Kewaunee county entrepreneurs can enter 'Shark Tank'-like business pitch contest

DOOR COUNTY - Potential entrepreneurs in Door and Kewaunee counties can enter a local "Shark Tank"-style contest this fall to network and win seed money to help advance, produce and market their business ideas.

That'll take place in Lighthouse Launch, a "pitch contest" co-sponsored by the Door County Economic Development Corp. and Kewaunee County Economic Development Corp. currently scheduled to take place Nov. 15 in Kewaunee County.

The event is designed to offer aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their innovative ideas and business ventures by pitching them to a panel of judges, as in the hit ABC-TV show "Shark Tank." Those who earn first and second places win cash prizes − $1,000 and $500 respectively −that can be used for seed money for their products, DCEDC executive director Michelle Lawrie said, and advance to the regional NEW Launch Alliance pitch event in December at Titletown Tech in Ashwaubenon, with more cash prizes for the winners in that contest.

Those who want to enter don't necessarily have to have a finished product or prototype to make their pitches, Lawrie said.

"It can be a concept or an idea or a product, anything like that," she said.

The annual NEW Launch Alliance is sponsored by New North, Inc., a nonprofit regional marketing and economic development corporation that fosters collaboration between business leaders and local public business organizations, such as the DCEDC and KCEDC, across 18 counties in Northeast Wisconsin, from Sheboygan to Green Lake to Florence.

For last year's New North pitch contest, four local qualifying pitch contests were held from Green Bay through the Fox Valley to Sheboygan. A total of 34 potential entrepreneurs made pitches, with the winner in each local event earning $1,000 and second place taking $500, along with moving on to the Titletown event.

There, the eight finalists pitched their concepts, answered questions from the judges and were able to network with possible mentors or investors. Their ideas included CBD-infused coffees and teas, cultural diversity presentations, online travel booking assistance and a process to remove invasive zebra mussels and convert them into a useful product, among others.

The eventual winner, Kean O'Brien of Hang Ten Pokḗ (a food incubator kitchen effort-turned-restaurant in Fond du Lac), earned $2,000, with second- and third-place winners taking home $1,000 and $500, respectively. The three winners also were able to attend a New North Summit event in June at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to meet with mentors and potential investors and provide an update on their projects.

This year will mark the first time the Door and Kewaunee counties economic development corporations have held a local qualifier for the New North pitch contest. Lawrie said the DCEDC planned to sponsor such an event last year but it fell through, so now she's hoping for strong interest and participation this year.

She said it makes sense to partner with the Kewaunee organization to put on their Lighthouse Launch. Besides the fact that economic development groups near each other often join forces to sponsor their local contests, Lawrie said the two counties are fertile ground for entrepreneurs and their economies have many similarities. Plus, the organizations have worked together on past efforts, such as the biennial Door/Kewaunee County Legislative Days that brings local leaders to Madison to raise issues of local interest directly to state lawmakers.

"We really like partnering together," Lawrie said. "I think there's a lot more synergy to our organizations. … Door and Kewaunee counties are a good place (for entrepreneurs) because our economy is so based on small businesses."

Ben Nelson, executive director of the KCEDC, said in addition to the cash prizes for first and second places, the two organizations are on the lookout for individuals and businesses that would sponsor in-kind, business-to-business awards for contestants, such as webpage design or advertising.

Lawrie said the DCEDC plans to hold a meeting with potential entrants in September to go over what they'll need to know to successfully participate.

"We'll get these entrepreneurs together," Lawrie said, "and say, 'Hey, there's an opportunity to pitch your product and get your seed money.'"

More details on the local contest are being finalized. For more information on entering or becoming a sponsor, contact Lawrie at 920-743-3113 or Nelson at 920-255-1661 or visit livedoorcounty.org or kewauneecountyedc.org.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door, Kewaunee county entrepreneurs can pitch business ideas in contest