Ignite Portsmouth 2024 Results
The 2024 Ignite Portsmouth Bootcamp culminated in a pitch competition on Wednesday, June 26th. Thirteen local entrepreneurs completed the program and pitched in front of a panel of expert judges for a total of $12,000 in seed funding and in-kind services.
Caroline King took first place and $5,000 with her idea of the Nest, a family resource and early childhood resource center. Dawn Burchett took second place and $3,000 with her idea of Two Cousins: Everything Sourdough and Goods. Edwin Martell took third place and $2,000 for his idea of the Selfie Museum in Portsmouth. Heather Sherman was awarded the local impact award and $1,000 for her idea of the Art Square, a creative co-working space. Finally, Devon Dixon was awarded the social impact award and $1,000 for his idea of Bair Paws, a non-profit dedicated to therapy dogs and peer to peer support for mental health.
”Working with this year's cohort was an absolute pleasure,” said Program Facilitator Josh Lawson. “Spending eight weeks with so many creative, hardworking people feels less like a job and more like a dream. But this program is only one step in their journeys. I am confident that the ripple effect of their efforts will expand and impact our community in many powerful ways over the years to come.”
The 2024 cohort will now become alumni of the program. Ignite alumni get invited to Hub events, get continued support, and regularly become members of our growing mentor network.
“My favorite part of the Ignite program is the cohort model,” said Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator Derrick Parker. “I love seeing our cohorts grow with one another during the bootcamp itself. But more than that - they connect with program alumni from years past for mentorship, networking, and collaboration. It is truly great to see our entrepreneurs working together to make Portsmouth and the surrounding region a better place to live.”
Ignite Portsmouth is made possible by the support of the support of the ECDI Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia at SSU, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Economic Development Administration, and sponsors such as Glockner Family of Dealerships, the GRIT Project Ohio, Scioto Law LLC, Imagine Design, the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, as well as Appalachian Media and Marketing.
“Ignite Portsmouth showcased innovation with heart, from Bair Paws' healing touch for veterans and our recovery community to The Nest's commitment to breaking poverty's cycle for struggling families—each pitch a testament to community care and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Hub Director Amanda Hedrick. “Business can be a force for profound community change and it is an honor to support these efforts through the services we provide at Shawnee State University's Kricker Innovation Hub.”
