HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – An event designed to give entrepreneurs a jumpstart on their business ideas will also launch the Holland Smartzone which also supports the local entrepreneurial community through Lakeshore Advantage.
Holland’s 5×5 Night Business Idea Competition allowed 25 entrepreneurs to bring forth their business model with the public voting from June 23 through July 14, 2016. More than 1,450 votes were cast and the votes are now in and the top 5 have been selected.
According to Lakeshore Advantage, tonight at the 5×5 Night event the top 5 will unveil their ideas with $5,000 at stake. The top 5 include:
• Stir It Up Bakery – Bakery producing high-quality goods made by special needs young adults in the community.
• Not Your Mother’s Laundry – Weekly laundry service delivering clean, folded laundry back within two days.
• Migration Surf – Great Lakes-specific custom surf and paddleboard products and repair.
• Just Another Fairytale – Online bridesmaid dress marketplace for resale.
• Project Equip – Empowering individuals with tools and training to create more opportunity.
Though it was the public who voted for the Top 5, a panel of five judges will ultimately decide on the evening’s $5,000 prizewinner. These judges represent diverse business backgrounds and will lean on their experiences to provide feedback to startups and to choose the competition’s winner.
Judges for the Holland event include Eric Post of Varnum Law, Fred Molnar of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Jane Clark of the West Coast Chamber, Chuck Reid of Charter House Innovations, and Brett VanderKamp of New Holland Brewing Company.
The event takes place at CityVu Events in the CityFlats Hotel in downtown Holland at 5 p.m.