2022 PITCH RECAP

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the Launch MN West Central Hub held their first pitch competition – the West Central Trailblazer Challenge. Finalists who took part in the competition represented high-potential startups from across the West Central region and came from industries ranging from lawn care technology to cybersecurity.

The West Central Trailblazer Challenge was organized by the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, in partnership with Greater Fergus Falls, the Greater Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and St. Cloud’s ILT Studios, as part of their combined efforts to build a stronger entrepreneur ecosystem in the region.

#WCTRAILBLAZERS #LAUNCHMN

YOUTH DIVISION

(9-12th Grade)

This competition is open to all high school students 9 -12th grade in the West Central Region of Minnesota.

Date // April 13th
Time // 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Location // ILT Studios Davidson Opera House, 113 5th Ave S. St. Cloud, MN 56301

ADULT DIVISION

(18+)

This competition is open to anyone that is over the age of 18 in the West Central Region of Minnesota. College students, graduate students, business owners, and corporate employees are eligible to compete in this division.

Date // April 13th
Time // 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location // ILT Studios Davidson Opera House, 113 5th Ave S. St. Cloud, MN 56301

YOUTH DIVISION

(9-12th Grade)

Bobo’s Music Café (first place winner), Brynn Germo
Pay Rate (second place winner), Krya Knock / Hannah Storm
Fledgling (third place winner), Gwenna Germo

THANK YOU JUDGES //

Thank you to the following business leaders who judged the Youth and Adult Division:

Ryan Tungseth (4t Creative), Chad Landmann (Bremer Bank), Brandi Nelson (Bremer Bank), Derrick Fountain (Backhouse Brands) , Ryan Weber (Great North Ventures) , Donniel Robinson (Intiaitve Foundation), Scott Warzecha (Netgain), Eric Newell (Stoneridge Software) , Kate Mudge (West Central Initiative).

ADULT DIVISION

(18+)

Trimyxs (first place winner), the first-ever universal push lawnmower attachment, allowing consumers to both mow their lawn but also trim and edge all at the same time.

Impacks (second place winner), a platform designed to improve the back-to-school shopping experience for parents, while also supporting educators and classrooms.

Hummingbird Golf (third place winner), a pioneering luxury gold brand that aims to revolutionize the gold luxury product industry by bringing thoughtful product engineering to the hand of every golfer.

Mezclada, an online learning platform for beginning framers – whether from a farm family or are first-generation farmers- that provides training and solutions to accessing land and capital for historically marginalized farmers.

Piivately, a cyber security company built for mid-sized companies that are stewards of customers’ personal information and are currently dissatisfied with the fragmented landscape that lacks standards when it comes to securing personal data.