Iowa Innovation Gateway Dream Big Top Five Announced!

The on-line public voting phase of the regional Iowa Innovation Gateway DREAM BIG GROW HERE contest closed on Thursday, September 15th at 11:59 p.m. Thirty different regional entrepreneurs submitted testimonies about their businesses for the contest. Over 16,000 votes were cast throughout the voting period.

Congratulations to:

• Chris Perkins, Go Topless Glassware
• Heidi Rockwell, Yumi’s Bakery & Deli
• Carol Von Klompenburg, The Write Place
• Josh Cowman & Jon Kettler, Skowty, LLC
• Simone Bates, Simone’s Cuppa

These top five vote getters will now present to a panel of regional judges on September 20th to see who will take home the $5,000 regional grant. Judges will be using the following criteria to determine the final winner: the viability of the business, an effective plan for use of prize money, the ability to raise additional capital, a potential to generate wealth in the region, the business provides economic diversity to the region and there is a potential to create jobs in the region. The IIG regional winner will also be eligible for the statewide pitch-off party to be held at the MyEntre.net EntreBash in Ames in March 2012. The winner of the statewide pitch-off will receive another $10,000 to support their business.

Thanks to everyone who has helped to make the IIG Regional DREAM BIG GROW HERE contest such a success!  Please also checkout our key sponsors for this contest: Iowa Innovation Gateway, Iowa Bankers Association, Renew Rural Iowa, Community Vitality Center, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Technology Association of Iowa and the Iowa Area Development Group.