GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge has concluded its second annual competition, awarding three promising entrepreneurs with a share of $50,000 in seed funding.
The winners were announced today following a Pitch Night event Dec. 4 at the Gillette College Technical Education Center.
A panel of seven judges, comprising local business leaders and investors, selected the winners from a pool of five finalists. The winning companies are:
- Inflatrix: Founded by Mark Thoreson, Inflatrix has developed a device aimed at simplifying dental fillings in back teeth, reducing patient discomfort and procedure time.
- Root to Shoot: Nathan Roma’s microgreens farm offers a sustainable solution for year-round fresh produce, using significantly less water and electricity than traditional farming.
- White Hat: Founded by Dan Knievel, Nick Bolton and Waleed Siddiqui, White Hat provides cybersecurity services specializing in ransomware protection for critical infrastructure and high-risk sectors.
Each winner receives $5,000 and the opportunity to apply for further funding in February based on their business plan progress. Root to Shoot also received the Audience Choice Award, securing an additional $1,000.
The competition, organized by Energy Capital Economic Development, began in September with an open application period. A selection process narrowed the field down to eight semifinalists and then five finalists who presented at Pitch Night.
Scot Rendall, formerly of IMPACT 307 and currently a consultant for CFO4Success LLC, and Dana Miller, entrepreneurial ecosystem coordinator for the Gillette College Office of Economic Transformation and an Energy Capital Economic Development board member, conducted the competition.
“Pitch Night included five outstanding and diverse plans that are great examples of our area’s entrepreneurial spirit. It’s been a pleasure to work with each of the entrepreneurial teams as they continue development of their plans,” Rendall said.
Miller added, “This year’s Challenge was made possible through support from fifteen different organizations at the state, regional, and local level. We are so pleased to have stakeholders that believe in the growth and success of our area’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Challenge continues to help boost startup activity in our northeast Wyoming region.”
Energy Capital Economic Development is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to stimulate and facilitate a diverse economy through business retention, expansion and recruitment. ECED runs the FUEL Business Incubator Program that assists entrepreneurs to start, run and grow small businesses.