First Annual Sweetwater County Innovation Launchpad Underway

The first annual Sweetwater County Innovation Launchpad is a startup competition run by IMPACT Sweetwater, a partnership between the University of Wyoming’s IMPACT 307 and Western Wyoming Community College (Western).  This year twenty-eight applications were received.  After reviewing the submitted materials and deliberating, nine semi-finalist companies were chosen to move on to the next stage of the competition.  These semi-finalists will receive mentorship from IMPACT 307 and will participate in a business Bootcamp which will be run by IMPACT 307.  Four additional companies were also invited from the applicant pool to participate in the Bootcamp. 

The Sweetwater County Innovation Launchpad is an IMPACT 307 regional startup challenge that is supported by local donors: Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce, Green River Chamber of Commerce, Rock Springs Main Street URA, the Economic Development Administration, Governor Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership, and the Wyoming Business Council. 

The semi-finalists were chosen from applications which follow the Lean LaunchPad methodology.  Each applicant had to define a customer’s problem and propose a solution for that problem via their company products or services.  They also had to discuss the ideal customer for their product or service.  IMPACT 307 thanks Tiffany Kindel of Commerce Bank of Wyoming for helping judge the semi-final rounds. 

The business Bootcamp kicked off on Thursday, June 23.  Each company presented an elevator pitch for their company.  Companies also received training from Anne Mason (Relative Theatrics) on how to give an engaging presentation.  Bonnie and Barry Tippy (Red White Buffalo) discussed their firsthand entrepreneur experiences.  Monica Patten (IMPACT 307) and Fred Schmechel (IMPACT 307) presented on business models and innovation.   

Applicant companies will give pitch presentations to compete for a spot in the final round.  All semi-finalists will then receive additional mentorship and Bootcamp sessions.  The competition will culminate in a Pitch Day competition at the Broadway Theater in downtown Rock Springs on September 13, in the early evening.  Seed funding will be provided to the winning companies.  Seed funding is made possible by State Bank and Commerce Bank of Wyoming.   

To learn more about the launch pad and Western’s role contact the Dean of Outreach and Workforce Development Amy Murphy at: amurphy@westernwyoming.edu or call 307- 382-1616.  

Descriptions of the semi-finalist's companies are listed below, alphabetically, by the lead applicant’s last name. 

Laurie Carollo, Nick Walrath, Pete Rust, Stacey Dolinar, James Chaves, Aaron Slaton, Megan McComas, Chelsie Naylor: Wild Sage Market is a Green River food co-op. https://wildsagegreenriver.com/ 

Dylan Covington: A woodworker focusing on custom cabinetry and built-ins. 

Elizabeth (Lizzie) de’Medici: Sweetwater Sage is a cruelty-free, vegan, handmade soap business. https://sweetwater-sage.com/ 

Amanda Finch: Amanda is leading a functional nutritionist business which also provides light therapy and physical training. 

Cody and Brittany Gray: The Grays are developing an innovative solution to improve the safety of recreational vehicles. 

Justin Hood: Wyoming Apparatus is a company that tests and repairs emergency vehicles and fire trucks to keep them in compliance and working properly. https://wyomingapparatus.com/ 

Amber Marie Hunt, Joseph Skimehorn: Amber and Joseph are leading a company to develop skin art products which have less of a chance of inducing allergic reactions. 

Melinda (Mindy) and Glen Reddon: The Reddons are starting a meat processing facility in Farson. 

Braids Roberts and Joshua Dulaney: Braids and Joshua are developing new wood pellets which burn cleaner and more efficiently. 

The four additional companies that were chosen to attend the Bootcamp: 

Susie Anastos: Susie started an indoor children’s playland in Green River. https://www.ggplayland.com/ 

Joaquin and Rosaura Barrera: Great Microgreens is a local microgreen company.  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081954505475 

Mark Branson: Mark has a local rescue shelter for fish. https://www.facebook.com/ugliestIvan 

Erik Hamm and Lori Kizzire: Erik and Lori are starting a company to stream local events.