MEET THE FINALISTS

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the Launch MN West Central Hub held their first pitch competition – the West Central Trailblazer Challenge. Finalists who took part in the competition represented high-potential startups from across the West Central region and came from industries ranging from lawn care technology to cybersecurity.

The West Central Trailblazer Challenge was organized by the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, in partnership with Greater Fergus Falls, the Greater Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and St. Cloud’s ILT Studios, as part of their combined efforts to build a stronger entrepreneur ecosystem in the region.

#WCTRAILBLAZERS #LAUNCHMN

2022 FINALISTS //

Hummingbird Golf

THIRD PLACE WINNER

Hummingbird Golf , from Collegeville, is a pioneering luxury golf brand that aims to revolutionize the golf luxury product industry by bringing thoughtful product engineering to the hand of every golfer. Hummingbird’s 6-in-1 golf multi-tool features include a ball alignment stencil, sharp groove cleaner, magnet, bottle opener, ball-mark repair tool and club-rest. Part of Hummingbird’s appeal is that its retail price of $19 bridges the gap between $6 plastic tools and $70 Swiss Army Knife tools, not all of which have Hummingbird’s features. Visit website

Mezclada

Mezclada, from Vergas, is an online learning platform for beginning farmers – whether from a farm family or are first-generation farmers – that provides training and solutions to accessing land and capital for historically marginalized farmers. Unlike existing training programs that focus on technical skills, Mezclada helps farmers tap into resources by releasing limiting beliefs, mastering manifestation and understanding their human design. Visit website

Piivately

Piivately, from St. Cloud, is a cyber security company built for mid-sized companies that are stewards of customers’ personal information and are currently dissatis!ed with the fragmented landscape that lacks standards when it comes to securing personal data. Piivately’s solution is an end-to-end encrypted database as a service that can connect to existing infrastructure and solve the problem of customers’ data not being adequately protected. Unlike inhouse systems, Piivately has a comprehensive suite of features tailored to safeguarding personal information and proactively countering evolving threats. Visit website

Impacks

SECOND PLACE WINNER

Impacks, from St. Cloud, is a platform designed to improve the back-to-school shopping experience for parents, while also supporting educators and classrooms. Impacks launched in 2020 and has run two pilots over the past two years, successfully bringing to market a customized, prepackaged school supply kit solution. Impacks is now developing a classroom subscription product that would become the “piggy bank” for the classroom: Impacks would be used to collect money from parents on a monthly or annual basis, and those dollars would accumulate in an account that educators could access through a mobile app to buy the supplies they need throughout the year. Visit website

Trimyxs

FIRST PLACE WINNER

Trimyxs, from Moorhead, is the name of the first-ever universal push lawnmower attachment. The Trimyxs allows consumers to not only mow their lawn but also trim and edge all at the same time. This previously time-consuming chore is now made simple with the push of a trigger. The Trimyxs has been engineered with buyers in mind, created with three easily attachable parts that are compatible with most standard name brand lawnmowers (e.g., Honda, Cub Cadet, Ego, Troy-Bilt, Toro, etc.). The Trimyxs was designed to be simple, convenient and time saving. Visit website

THANK YOU JUDGES //

Thank you to the following business leaders who judged the Youth and Adult Division:

Ryan Tungseth (4t Creative), Chad Landmann (Bremer Bank), Brandi Nelson (Bremer Bank), Derrick Fountain (Backhouse Brands) , Ryan Weber (Great North Ventures) , Donniel Robinson (Intiaitve Foundation), Scott Warzecha (Netgain), Eric Newell (Stoneridge Software) , Kate Mudge (West Central Initiative).

THANK YOU SPONSORS //

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