The Eau Claire Area EDC is proud to announce five local entrepreneur finalists who aspire to start or grow their business idea in the Chippewa Valley.
The Idea Challenge is an annual unique business idea contest ran by the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation. Applicants of the Challenge then are assisted by the Eau Claire EDC to take their idea and making it a reality. This is a free contest that accepts ideas, from local entrepreneurs, in any stage of development for any new product, service, or process.
The Idea Challenge 2022 finalists are (in no particular order);
- Eau Claire Refillery, Greta Gladitsch– Eau Claire Refillery is a zero-waste, eco-friendly refill store in downtown Eau Claire.
- Flawn Seed Kits, Anthony Nied– Flawn Seed Kits allow you to easily transform your grass lawn into a low maintenance flowering lawn that is safe for pets, kids, and the environment.
Goatful Games, Eli Bremer- Goatful Games has created an exciting board game, Meet Me At the Creek, an amazing game of race, chase and capture based around the musician Billy Strings.
- Peace Tree Child Care Management, Lydia Ekenstedt- Peace Tree Child Care Management Services provides the expertise to open and operate an exceptional child care center by breaking down common barriers to give better pay, fair tuition, and employee benefits.
- Cereus, Doug Rhoten–Cereus is a SaaS product that automates auditing all content and network traffic in your website to ensure it complies with US and international privacy laws.
Part of the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to cultivate innovative thinkers and entrepreneurship. With use of The Idea Challenge, the Eau Claire Area EDC will help elevate five business ideas and help them launch or advance into the local marketplace.
Started by the Eau Claire Area EDC in 2007, The Idea Challenge has been supporting local entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers within our community for over a decade. In 2011, Northwestern Bank became the financial sponsor, giving The Idea Challenge the opportunity to offer cash awards and cover some startup business expenses for the winning finalist.
The Final Pitches & Awards Ceremony will be held on December 8, 2022 – 10:00 am in Barstow Commons, CoLab, 131 S Barstow, Eau Claire, 2nd floor.
The public is invited to attend the final pitches and awards ceremony and hear about new business they may see in the near future. Lunch generously sponsored by Erberts and Gerberts.
The Idea Challenge is open to any individual or company with an idea for a new product or service. For over a decade The Idea Challenge has been assisting entrepreneurs in getting connected to community resources, practicing their pitch, assisting in getting their idea into the market, and –of course- the chance to win $5000 in reimbursable business expenses to advance their idea! All finalists will receive $500 and several marketing and business services incentives to help launch their business idea.
