WASHINGTON, N.C. — Fifteen local entrepreneurs won a share of a $25,000 pitch contest through a seed competition designed and sponsored by Beaufort County Community College’s Small Business Center.
Of the 15, 10 took home $2,500 to invest in their own businesses. The final pitch on April 13 was part of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Program, which began in September 2023. The seeding contest was funded by contributions from Airbnb, Duke Energy, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, TriCounty Foundation, First Citizens Bank, and NCIDEA. , Belhaven Pantego Rotary, First Bank.
Not only did the companies receive cash, they also received free training along the way. To qualify for the pitch competition, all contestants complete his SBC core workshop and meet with the program’s director, Jack Dugan, to develop their professional startup or expansion plan. did. All SBC workshops are free and some are offered online.
Dugan said, “This process fosters learning, creativity, entrepreneurship and healthy competition in a positive and encouraging environment. This means leaving seeds for local communities to grow and thrive.”
The 10 winning small businesses each received $2,500. Award winners include Beverly Horvath and The Blue Crab Boutique of Aurora, North Carolina, Caitlin Cooper and Craftsman Accounting of Pantego, North Carolina, and Debbie King and ICW Brewery of Belhaven, North Carolina. They include Jamari Spencer, Spencer Property Maintenance and Betsy Waters of Washington, D.C.; Balance in Motion Fitness in Belhaven, Shontae Mason and Vivrant Things Boutique in Washington, Danielle Hubers and Molly Coltrane in Belhaven, Bad Moms Coffee, and Haley Elson and Lighthouse Rak in Washington. ation, Michelle Hardy of Washington and Hardy’s Tire Service, and Kevin Washington’s People and Prospective Living Corp.
This summer, SBC will be offering “Find the Entrepreneur in You” starting July 8th. SBC Director Jack Dugan will facilitate this his three-day Ice House workshop. This workshop is designed to inspire and engage participants in the fundamental aspects of entrepreneurship. Universal application and the endless opportunities it can offer. Participants will leave with a plan to help start or expand a small business and enter a pitch competition to win $1,500 in seed funding. Lunch included. For more information about this summer’s pitch competition, contact the Small Business Center at (252) 940-6306. See all upcoming Small Business Center workshops and register at www.beaufortccc.edu/sbc.
