11/18/2019- In just ten minutes, two budding area entrepreneurs secured a little extra funding for their business venture. inVenture North, in partnership with New North and Bright Star Wisconsin, hosted a HATCH event last week where four hopeful small business owners pitched their plan to a panel of judges with backgrounds in everything from accounting to continuing education. The first-place winner, Ines Baker, walked away from the event with the $2000 grand prize, which she says will go a long way in securing a license for her company designing custom, handmade formal and bridal gowns. Baker says she’s excited to see an event like HATCH come to the area, not only for the investment prospect, but for the exposure it offers to entrepreneurs.
“I’m looking forward to growing my business and honestly, I’m good at sewing and designing, but when it comes to administration and publicity, all that stuff, I need help. So, they told me about this organization, this specific event that would guide me to the right people.”
Second-place finisher Nathan Bihini is an international student at the UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus. His won $1000 for his plan to open a salon that caters to clients of all different nationalities and ethnicities with unique hair care needs.
“It’s a problem I am dealing with- finding a proper hair salon- and I’m happy I was actually able to talk about it and bring out a solution.”
The HATCH competition was one of four similar events held across Wisconsin last week. Baker and Bihini now move on to compete against the top presenters from the other competitions at the New North summit next month in Green Bay.