The IGNITE Rural Business Competition Grand Finale unfolded on Oct. 5 at the iconic Crest Theater in downtown Great Bend. This event marked the culmination of a journey that began with the top 10 businesses competing in a semi-final round.
With 1,805 total viewers tuning in to the live stream on Thursday night, there were 887 visitors directly to the site and an additional 1,650 coming from Facebook to the site. In the last 30 days alone, there were a total of 2,565 site sessions.
One of the highlights of the evening was the People's Choice award, which was presented to 10-39 Café. They not only earned the admiration of the audience but also an additional $5,000, thanks to their 56% share of the votes. A total of 921 votes were cast on the Slido.com platform between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8:50 p.m.
The judges for the evening, Kari Smith, Jason Mayers, and Jerrod Westfahl, played the role of "sharks" or judges, carefully evaluating the top five finalists. Each finalist delivered a 10-minute pitch followed by an additional 10-minute question and answer period. The judges' deliberation determined how the prize money would be awarded.
The winners of the IGNITE Rural Business Competition were announced as follows:
· 1st Place: The Greystone - winning $50,000
· 2nd Place: 10-39 Café - winning $30,000
· 3rd Place: Hatchet Axtion - winning $10,000
Hosted by Shannon Towns and Lyle Jones, the evening was filled with sponsor acknowledgments and an opportunity for the audience to get to know the contestants.
The IGNITE Rural Business Competition, organized by Great Bend Economic Development, aims to empower entrepreneurs and promote innovation in Barton County. The competition provides a platform for emerging businesses to showcase their ideas, win grants and contribute to the local economy.
To relive the excitement of the IGNITE Rural Business Competition Grand Finale, visit greatbendpost.com for streaming highlights and engaging narratives about the remarkable entrepreneurs who made it to the Top 5. You can also watch the live-stream finale in its entirety on the website as well.