Montana’s Entrepreneurial Future Competes for $50K at the 28th John Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge

Thanks to GOED Director Ken Fitchler for the list of winners.

Congratulations to the Final 4:

4th – they also won about $7k in other prizes. Crepe Cuisine – A mobile food truck selling traditional French crepes with a local, Montanan twist to Missoulians looking for a unique and delicious food option. https://www.facebook.com/CrepeCuisineMontana/

3rd – Clark Fork Charcuterie – A retail and wholesale producer of locally cured and specialty meats, targeting customers seeking artisanally crafted products. https://www.clarkforkcharcuterie.com/

2nd – Ryffit Inc. – Ryffits allows musicians to create custom books of sheet music by popular artists which are then printed and mailed to their doorstep.

1st and they won additional prize money too. Cowboy Cricket Farms LLC – The first edible insect farm in Montana, providing a better protein for a better future. https://cowboy-cricket-farms.myshopify.com/

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Missoula crepery, cricket farm among student startup pitches

Criticism isn’t easy, but for the students who pitched their business plans on Thursday at the University of Montana, a dose of well-meaning advice was more welcome than it was bruising.

Sixteen teams https://www.facebook.com/JohnRuffattoBSC/ gathered in the Gilkey Center auditorium to compete for a combined $50,000 in prizes during this year’s John Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge http://www.business.umt.edu/competitions/startup/ .

The annual event represents Montana’s largest opportunity for students attending any state college or university to present their business plan to a panel of judges and, at times, an investor or two.

Martin Kidston/Missoula Current

Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2017/04/missoula-business-pitch/

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Young entrepreneurs compete for funds at competition at the University of Montana

Kassi Soelter can crank out 30 crepes in an hour on a griddle she bought from France.

"Once we get our second griddle, we’ll be able to double production speed, serve more customers and raise our profits," Soelter said.

The psychology student at the University of Montana is opening a food truck called Crepe Cuisine, and she pitched the concept Thursday at the 28th annual statewide John Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge.

KEILA SZPALLER [email protected]

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/young-entrepreneurs-compete-for-funds-at-competition-at-the-university/article_d6dac699-60c9-53f3-9e47-1db03961f966.html

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Congratulations to the 2017 competitors:

Carroll College:

Pedenza – Designs top-of-the-line, handmade, floating wine bottle holders from fine hardwoods.

Montana Tech:

Healthy Eats – Inspired recipe generation tailored to you, whether cooking at home or out shopping.

UM:

Bonsai Communities – Tiny Homes under the Big Sky: A sustainable, affordable housing solution for Missoula.

Clark Fork Charcuterie – A retail and wholesale producer of locally cured and specialty meats, targeting customers seeking artisanally crafted products.

Crepe Cuisine – A mobile food truck selling traditional French crepes with a local, Montanan twist to Missoulians looking for a unique and delicious food option.

FeatureMe, LLC – For that impossible-to-shop-for friend or family member, FeatureMe offers the most unique and genuinely touching personalized gift: a story.

MatchMade – A project workforce software as a service designed to help leaders build teams through a suitability algorithm based on team member background, skill, preference and project type.

Miriam’s Inspired Skin Care – Providing natural, local nutrition for skin.

Ryffit Inc. – Ryffits allows musicians to create custom books of sheet music by popular artists which are then printed and mailed to their doorstep.

StrappedIn – A social platform that connects local amateur athletes to local companies through sponsorships in exchange for marketing.

TOMIS – A digital marketing assistant for tour operators.

Tran·sci·lator – An online science communication platform with a fact-checking component and a simple education model that explains trending science in a clear, concise manner that doesn’t require a Ph.D. to understand.

UM and MSU:

Darktwin Studios – A game studio focused on decision-based storytelling.

MSU:

Cowboy Cricket Farms LLC – The first edible insect farm in Montana, providing a better protein for a better future.

Farmented – Dedicated to reducing waste in the form of grade "B" and excess vegetables on small, local farms by creating a new, innovative line of fermented goods for a health and Earth-conscious target market.

Sirberus – A breaching device that saves seconds to save lives.