Three New Jersey entrepreneurs were all smiles at the conclusion of the Start Something Challenge finals hosted by Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit organization founded with the mission to empower entrepreneurs, on August 5, 2014 at the New Jersey City University’s West Side Theatre. The Challenge is a statewide pitch competition assisting entrepreneurs to start and grow successful businesses. Entrants in the competition receive hands-on coaching and mentorship for their startup or small business which is free to enter by anyone who is New Jersey resident 18 years or older, who operates a microbusiness or has a business idea.
Entrepreneur Ninotchka Johnson of Top Notch by Design took first place, winning $10,000 for her handbag and accessories company; Kimberly Sumpter of Wax Kandy, won $7,500 to increase her production of her scented, handmade, keepsake candles, and Joanna Chmarzewska of Crazy for Italia which distributes waterproof, inflatable seabags received $5,000.
The competition supported by its key sponsor JP Morgan reduced an initial field of 74 entrants to ten finalists. Each entrant created a business commercial using the Animoto.com software which they “promoted using a variety of online and offline marketing tools”. The videos received over 27 thousand views and the top 30 entrepreneurs were chosen for the semi-finals. The semi-finalist videos were hosted on the Start Something Challenge web site and the top ten vote getters from the public moved to the finals. A head-to-head pitch competition in front of a guest audience and a panel of judges determined the winners.
First prize winner Ninotchk Johnson was exuberant, “I am so excited and totally in shock. When I first realized I won I almost cried, now I’m just excited!” exclaimed Johnson. “Participating in the Start Something Challenge really pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
Rising Tide Capital CEO and Co-founder Alfa Demmellash summed up the competitions goals, “The Challenge is an opportunity for us to make a financial investment into the dreams, visions and hard work for just three of them, but they were all winners; they had the opportunity to share their stories, show how they are solving daily problems, and to meet potential supporters, customers and partners tonight. I feel reenergized and moved beyond words, and determined to find ways to give even more people this kind of opportunity.”
Judges:
Paula L. Alford, COO of NuSplash; Luis De La Hoz Vice President, Lending Team of The Intersect Fund; Steve Gomez, Executive Director, Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation; Hugo Morales, (Interim) Director of Marketing at New Jersey City University; Coretta Owusu, 2014 Winner of the Start Something Challenge, and owner of aSuiteStay; Alex Patterson, VP of Brand of Tough Mudder, LLC; Jeff Platt, Head of Marketing for Animoto for Business; Judith Sheft, Associate Vice President, Technology Department of New Jersey Institute of Technology; Andaiye Taylor, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of BrickCityLive.com and Rachel Greenwald, Program Manager, New Business Opportunities, Etsy.
