Startup Showdown Awards $60,000 to N.C. Founders
North Carolina Startup Showdown awarded $60,000 to Rinse-A-Poo, Victorious Wellness and The Gilded Lantern Co.
The North Carolina Small Business Center Network has awarded $60,000 in unrestricted startup funding to three businesses through its inaugural Startup Showdown, a statewide accelerator delivered with the N.C. Community College System. Rinse-A-Poo won $30,000, Victorious Wellness received $20,000, and The Gilded Lantern Co. earned $10,000. The program drew more than 300 applicants, with 17 finalists completing training, coaching, public voting and a pitch competition. Funding for the program came from the Wells Fargo Foundation and the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation.
Three Businesses Receive Funding
Dan Spangler, founder of Rinse-A-Poo, took first place and received $30,000. Supported by the Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center, Spangler plans to move the business from prototype to production for kennel and daycare operators.
Dan Spangler, founder of Rinse-A-Poo, said:
“The Startup Showdown was worth every hour I put into it. The coaching sharpened my pitch, but the real value was the 'room.' Between the instructors and the other cohort members, I got asked questions that made my product better. Taking first place means more than the check, though the check matters. That funding gets Rinse-A-Poo from prototype to production, into the hands of the kennel and daycare operators who have been asking when they can buy one.”
Dan Spangler, founder of Rinse-A-Poo, added:
“I ran a pet resort for 14 years and built this because I lived the problem. At Rinse-A-Poo, we take care of the dirty work.”
Victoria Gadbois of Victorious Wellness placed second, receiving $20,000. Her business is developing a women’s wellness concept that combines personalized care, restoration, education and connection. The company received support from the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center.
Third-place winner Phil McNutt of The Gilded Lantern Co. received $10,000. Supported by the Montgomery Community College Small Business Center, McNutt is developing a mobile mystery adventure experience for businesses, organizations and communities.
Training and Public Voting
Finalists completed the REAL Entrepreneurship® Pitch It! course with local community college leaders. The competition included a pitch event, public voting through YouTube from Sept. 1 to 15, and evaluation by business and entrepreneurship leaders.
Across the applicant pool, the network provided 1,050 hours of pre-application counseling and technical assistance. Finalists’ pitch videos recorded more than 41,000 views and 9,300 votes during the voting period.
Statewide Support Continues
The awards were announced Sept. 17 at an invite-only celebration in Raleigh, N.C. The Startup Showdown used the network of Small Business Centers at all 58 North Carolina community colleges, which serve all 100 counties in the state. Entrepreneurs can continue to access counseling, training and resources through those centers after the competition.
April Priester, director of the Small Business Center at Coastal Carolina Community College, said:
“Dan came into the Startup Showdown as a seasoned entrepreneur, but what impressed me most was his willingness to listen, be challenged and continue learning. Dan understood that even experienced entrepreneurs benefit from having someone in their corner who can challenge their thinking and offer a different perspective. I am incredibly proud of what he accomplished, and his success demonstrates the value Small Business Center support can bring at every stage of an entrepreneur's journey.”
Anne Shaw, director of the Small Business Center Network, said:
“We're proud to support these entrepreneurs as they take their next steps, and we're excited to build on this model in the years ahead. The Startup Showdown has demonstrated what's possible when we bring together the statewide reach of our Small Business Centers with training, counseling, mentorship and resources that help entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable businesses and create economic opportunity in their communities.”
