Las Vegas Sun
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) From a a hydroponic farm that would supply hundreds of Las Vegas businesses with produce to a reusable water bottle that doubles as a tool to help people stick with their medication regimens, there were plenty of creative ideas at this year’s “Get Started Las Vegas” pitch contest.
Las Vegas
A Las Vegas food truck that offers a side of philanthropy took top prize in Get Started Las Vegas, a contest to help launch start-ups.
Entrepreneur Siloh Moses’ Fork & Spoon LV, which provides a plate of food to the homeless for each plate purchased by a customer, topped four other finalists in the Get Started Las Vegas contest, held at Rain Nightclub at the Palms.
The winning finalist took home cash and prizes valued at more than $17,000, including a one-year Cox Business technology package.
In the contest, now in its third year in Las Vegas, entrepreneurs gave a two-and-a-half-minute pitch of their products and services to the judges in front of an audience. They also displayed their entries in a designated area of the event room.
Panelists were Allen Vance, owner of Work in Progress, Laura Lorber, executive editor of Inc.com, and Tim Washer, a stand-up comedian, video producer and corporate humorist.
The event also featured a Get Started U competition among three college entrepreneurs vying for a $3,000 business coaching package. Those contestants were:
Elias Benjelloun, owner of Tech Start for Kids. The business provides after-school computer science classes to students ages 6 to 15.
Wendy Gelbart, who pitched a peer-reviewed virtual conference platform.
Rosemary Garcia, owner of Miracle Hands Personal Home Care. The business provides in-home non-medical services to elderly and disabled Nevadans.
Benjelloun won the Get Started U competition and earned a chance to pitch with the Get Started Las Vegas finalists.
The other finalists were:
Entrepreneur Jonathan Torn’s Higher Ground Produce, a hydroponic farm that would supply hundreds of Las Vegas businesses with produce while using less water and fertilizer than traditional agriculture.
Entrepreneur Jailene Vazquez’s Remmedy Corp., maker of a reusable water bottle that doubles as a tool to help people stick with their medication regimen. The bottle offers an automated reminder to take medications and contains compartments for pills, vitamins and supplements.
Entrepreneur Moshe Atkins’ Stroller Costumes, a range of coverings that can be attached to strollers to make them look like fire trucks, princess carriages and other objects.
Entrepreneur Michael Boise’s Twambit Technologies, which offers sunglasses that are fitted with LED lights and technology that allows them to blink to the beat of music.
The Get Started franchise was created by Cox Business in 2013 and has since taken place 23 times in 11 Cox Business markets around the U.S.
Inc. magazine has been a partner in the event since its inception.
