Entrepreneurs given three minutes for pitch
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 9, 2015
Three minutes.
That’s all the time six anxious entrepreneurs were given Thursday night to pitch their business ideas in front of four judges at the Delta Regional Authority’s pitch competition.
The competition was held at Arsenal Place Accelerator, which is known for helping young businessmen and women get their business started.
“This is a really incredible opportunity because these entrepreneurs have the chance to meet other entrepreneurs from around the region,” said Katie Milligan with the DRA. “So not only do they get peer-to-peer mentors, but they also have the opportunity to meet entrepreneurship support organizations.”
The six businesses that pitched were Selma Good Company, Teknik LLC, Technology Innovations Corporation, Just Plug In, Revival Coffee Company and the Wright Call for All Calls.
Selma Good Company, also known as G Momma’s Cookies, and Revival Coffee Company are no stranger to people in Selma and Dallas County.
Phillip Owens pitched for Selma Good Company, and Ryan Bergeron pitched for Revival Coffee.
They were two of the three businesses that were picked as winners of the competition, along with Just Plug In.
The Wright Call for All Calls was selected as an alternate.
Thursday was just the second time Amelia Thomas has pitched an idea for Just Plug In.
“I’m getting more and more comfortable as I do [pitches], but the experience was great. It is always great to get the feedback from the judges,” Thomas said. “It is always great to get the questions because I need to know what I need to clarify for my future pitches.”
Thomas said Just Plug In would allow people to work from home for lager companies.
“I’ve always had a big, keen interest in just helping people find opportunities to work when opportunities might not exist,” Thomas said. “If you are in an area with high-speed internet you can actually work and earn an income while sitting in your home with legitimate opportunities.”
Thomas said the business gives people a chance to work with large companies like T-Mobile, Walgreens or Disney World from the comfort of their home.
Patrick Wright pitched the Wright Call for All Calls, which is an electronic hunting call for hunters that he said can make any kind of animal sound.
The youngest entrepreneurs in the competition, Kaleb Cooke and Nicholas Goodson, who are both seniors at Dallas County High School, made pitches for Teknik and Technology Innovation Corporation.
Cooke pitched an idea for a smart printer that would allow people to use a printer for normal printing and 3D printing through computers, phones and by voice control.
Cooke said his main reason for pitching Thursday was to get contacts to help him make his idea come to fruition.
“Being a senior at Dallas County High School, I really don’t know that many people … so I felt like coming here would be a great chance to pitch it to somebody who can get me to the right people,” Cooke said.
Goodson pitched an idea that would change light bulbs and make them safer and easier to change. Goodson said it would work like a cigarette lighter outlet.
“It was my first time pitching ever,” Goodson said. “The pitch tonight I felt really nervous, but I still felt really good about my idea because I know this can revolutionize America.”
The three winners will go to New Orleans in March for Entrepreneur Week, where they will pitch their ideas in front of national investors.