Part of the Renaissance: Liz Pratt and Portsmouth's Entrepreneurial Wave
When Liz Pratt moved from New York to Portsmouth, Ohio, she discovered something was missing from the local entertainment scene – karaoke nights. What started as a personal quest for community connection has transformed into DJ Geek Techneek, a thriving professional DJ and MC service that exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit driving Portsmouth's remarkable renaissance.
Before commanding microphones and getting crowds singing along, Liz worked as a mechanic. The career transition might seem dramatic, but it perfectly reflects the bold moves entrepreneurs are making throughout Portsmouth's revitalized downtown corridor.
"I looked for karaoke when I first moved here, and I couldn't find anything closer than Huntington," Liz explains. That gap in the market sparked an idea that would grow far beyond weekend entertainment – it became part of a broader movement reshaping Portsmouth's business landscape.
The Ignite Portsmouth Effect: Building Champions and Community
Portsmouth's entrepreneurial transformation didn't happen by accident. Programs like Ignite Portsmouth have become the catalyst, not just for individual business success, but for fostering unprecedented collaboration between entrepreneurs. In 2025, Liz's story became a perfect example of this collaborative spirit when she and her wife Amanda Pratt both competed in the same Ignite cohort.
In a program first, the married couple found themselves pitching against each other – Amanda with her holistic wellness business Roots of Recovery, and Liz with DJ Geek Techneek. Rather than creating tension, the experience brought out their competitive best.
"No animosity, but like the coolest competition," Liz laughs. "It brought out the best in each other."
Liz introduces herself to the rest of the Ignite Portsmouth 2025 cohort.
The rigorous 10-week Ignite program challenges participants to think beyond their initial business concepts, focusing on customer validation, target demographics, and market segments. For Liz, this meant understanding that DJ Geek Techneek wasn't just about providing music – it was about solving community isolation and helping local businesses thrive.
"I really just had this preconceived notion I was going to come in and people were going to tell me about my business, but it was literally a crash course on how businesses work," she reflects.
From Local Champion to Regional Success
DJ Geek Techneek stood out among 14 competitors on Ignite Portsmouth's pitch night, earning the $5,000 first prize. But the program's impact extended beyond Portsmouth's city limits. Liz took her refined pitch to the Ignite Appalachia Regional Championship at the SSU Kricker Innovation Hub, competing against entrepreneurs from Pike County, Cabell County, Washington County, and throughout Central Appalachia.
Liz and her partner Amanda celebrate winning 3rd Place at the Ignite Appalachia Pitch Competition.
Among 7 regional finalists, she secured third place and an additional $1,000 to help grow her business. The judges noted her energy, passion, demonstrated growth, and rapid business success.
What makes Portsmouth's entrepreneurial renaissance unique isn't just the individual success stories – it's how Ignite alumni continue supporting each other long after graduation. Walk downtown today and you'll see a dozen businesses that have been impacted by the Ignite program, many working together in ways that strengthen the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem.
DJ Geek Techneek has become an integral part of this collaborative network. Since launching in January 2025, Liz has partnered with local hotspots like Port City Irish Pub, The Kitchen Collective, and The Landing in Portsmouth, where her trivia nights, karaoke sessions, and special events help increase foot traffic and community engagement for fellow entrepreneurs.
"I feel like I get to be a part of the underdogs," she explains. "People here really have a passion for community. It's a snowball effect. Everybody just kind of encourages everybody else."
The mentorship component of Ignite particularly resonated with Liz, who credits both formal mentors and her cohort for pushing her thinking. She highlights session six, referring to it as the "mentor speed dating" night, which offered rapid-fire feedback from marketing professionals, school administrators, and other business leaders that helped refine her pitch and business strategy.
Rapid Growth and The Future of Portsmouth's Entrepreneurial Wave
DJ Geek Techneek's success reflects the broader momentum building throughout Portsmouth. Since launching just months ago, Liz is now booking more than two events per week, handling everything from weddings and other private functions to karaoke events at businesses. Her business growth has been so rapid that she's already planning to hire her first employee.
"The business growth has been faster paced than I imagined," she notes. The $6,000 in prize money will fuel two major investments: upgraded equipment for an enhanced client experience and hiring staff to help manage the growing demand.
What sets DJ Geek Techneek apart goes beyond the music – it's the mission of bringing people together. Having struggled with isolation after moving away from her large New York family, Liz understood firsthand how entertainment could build community connections.
"Finding my people here - it took a while for me," she shares. "Now, I can just get on a microphone and get all the people together."
As Portsmouth continues its exciting transformation, entrepreneurs like Liz prove that the city's renaissance isn't just about individual business success – it's about building an interconnected ecosystem where businesses help each other thrive. The collaboration fostered by programs like Ignite Portsmouth creates a multiplier effect that benefits the entire community.
Fourteen teams of entrepreneurs competed at the 2025 Ignite Portsmouth Pitch Competition. Now, those entrepreneurs are starting to collaborate with one another and alumni from prior years.
Ignite Portsmouth is the catalyst for new business in our region. The programs helps entrepreneurs obtain the skills they need to succeed, as they learn about value proposition, the business model canvas, market analysis, customer validation, financial and revenue modeling, access to capital, marketing, branding, and pitching. Participants are also matched with mentors to help them along their entrepreneurial journey.