On May 9, eight companies made their final pitches in front of a panel of judges at the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art as part of the Fort Worth Business Plan Competition.
The Fort Worth Business Plan Competition is an annual celebration of the city's entrepreneurs and small businesses. This year marks the 13th time this program has been held.
Twenty companies completed six weeks of business development training and coaching and applied the skills to their written plans. After reviewing their plans, the top eight finalists each gave their three-minute pitch to the judges, followed by a two-minute question and answer session.
This year, the $10,000 grand prize went to Megan Jackson and Tonisha Brown of RIPE Publishing House, which is dedicated to serving authors and communities effectively and equitably through youth programs and more.
RIPE Publishing House also won the “Perfect Pitch Award” audience popularity poll and received a $500 custom merchandise credit courtesy of our sponsor Printed Threads.
Second place went to Shawna Murphy of StyleSmart VA with a check for $6,000. Her StyleSmart VA, a TechFW customer, matches beauty industry professionals with trained virtual assistants to provide administrative support.
The third place prize of $4,000 went to Dee Henry of Champion Strength & Conditioning, a boutique personal training studio that provides customized fitness programs to improve the health, wellness and performance of its clients.
This year's Fort Worth Business Plan Competition included businesses from nine of Fort Worth's 10 legislative districts. City Council members Michael Crane, Janet Martinez and Chris Nettles attended the event.
The night's host was Lauren Kutschke of Salted Pages, the 2022 contest's grand prize winner. Last year's grand prize winner, Sharonda Burnside of Lil' Pop Gourmet Popcorn, gave us a special introduction.
As in previous years, the Fort Worth Business Plan Competition was hosted by the City of Fort Worth Economic Development Department and sponsored by Frost Bank.
Various supporting partners also helped provide guidance and mentorship to participating businesses, including TechFW, HSC Next, SCORE Fort Worth, Tarrant County Small Business Development Center, Accelerate Fort Worth Foundation, and Foundations EDC.
Other companies pitching during the finale include:
- Brown Sugar Ice Cream Co. specializes in organic, lactose-free frozen custard made with locally sourced ingredients.
- Ca'Maire LLC is a local hair salon offering solutions for all hair textures and types.
- OnDa Spot Solutions is a company that provides commercial cleaning and disinfection services to workplaces throughout the region.
- Shaman Systems LLC is a company that designs and sells electronic components for personal electric vehicles, such as electric bicycles.
- Smackin Mac is a food truck that serves a variety of baked gourmet macaroni and cheese bowls made with fresh ingredients.
La Pulga releases mezcal
A year ago, three local entrepreneurs launched La Pulga Tequila. La Pulga Tequila is a new spirit produced and bottled in Mexico, born in Fort His Worth. The company celebrates its first anniversary and has expanded its portfolio to include a new ultra-premium mezcal, La Pulga Mezcal.
Now available throughout North Texas and soon throughout the state, La Pulga officials say the mezcal is made from 100% wild-harvested agave salmiana in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and They report that it imparts a unique, flavorful taste and aroma of chili peppers, citrus, and greens. olive. La Pulga Mezcal is an unaged mezcal.
“At La Pulga, our mission and passion is to handcraft the best and most unique spirits of their kind. That is what we have achieved with La Pulga Tequila, and with this amazing The same goes for new mezcals,” says Sara Castillo, one of La Pulga’s three founders. “This is not your typical smoky mezcal.”
La Pulga mezcal is made with a process passed down through generations that involves carefully roasting the sweet, juicy heart of the plant, the agave piña, and crushing it to separate the agave juice from the fibers before fermentation and distillation. We respect the time-honoured manufacturing methods.
The brand's name comes from Pulga, an outdoor market located on University Drive on Fort Worth's Northside.It is one of the oldest outdoor flea markets in America
The brand was founded by Fort Worth restaurateur Castillo. Mr. Andrew de la Torre, club owner and operator of the Pulga Market; local entrepreneur and real estate developer Stephen Slaughter;
La Pulga Mezcal and La Pulga Tequila are available through Republic National Distributing Company at bars and restaurants throughout the Metroplex, select other Texas markets, retail spirits stores and online.
La Pulga Mezcal is the first release in the brand's new “Alebrijes” series, which refers to the Mexican folk art images of mystical animals that decorate La Pulga's bottles. La Pulga Mezcal's animal spirit is the coyote that lives in the area surrounding the distillery in San Luis Potosi.
Hillwood refinances industrial building
Hillwood refinanced construction debt for a recently completed industrial building within developer Alliance Texas Master Planned Development.
JLL Capital Markets, the capital markets arm of JLL, a leading commercial real estate services company, arranged the financing on behalf of Hillwood.
The 1.2 million square foot site is fully leased to Southwire Co., one of the leading wire and cable manufacturers based in Carrollton, Georgia.
The JLL Capital Markets team included Trey Morsbach, DJ Meagher, Ryan Pollack, and Chad Lisbeth.
Have something for a Bob on Business column? Email Bob Francis at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.
Bob Francis is the Fort Worth Report's business editor. Please contact bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.
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