By Stephen Smoot
A contest once seen as using a popular television show format to spur entrepreneurship has grown into much more in recent years. Somewhere along the way, the contest evolved in only three years into not simply a way to reward great ideas, but a celebration of entrepreneurship itself.
Although organized by the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and supported throughout the county, the Chamber last March announced that the contest would welcome “all small business entrepreneurs in North Central West Virginia who have been in business for two years or less.”
Organizers follow the format of the popular television program “Shark Tank” as much as is practical. On television, successful corporation owners evaluate pitches and then craft bids to work with those whose ideas they favor. Those include Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Barbara Corcoran, and other modern captains of industry.
The concept originated in Japan as “the Tigers of Money,” then aired in Great Britain as “Dragons’ Den.” To avoid copyright scuffles, the Chamber named it the “Tank Entrepreneurship Contest.”
Celebrating entrepreneurship and recognizing the sacrifices made in search of success served as the mission of the contest. Harrison County’s Chamber of Commerce turned it into an ex iting, must attend, event.
Small groups and individuals dressed to party in sophisticated style flocked under cool November night skies to the lit up historic Robinson Grand Theater in Clarksburg. Attendees filled row after row of seats as they awaited the program.
Mike Queen, a Harrison County business community fixture also on the staff of West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner, served as the master of ceremonies. Not long after he opened festivities, he introduced a more environmentally friendly supporter of the Tank contest, “Mr. Wonderful,” himself.
O’Leary appeared by video and opened with “let me be the first to welcome this entire crowd to the event” and praised how the competition “really encourages innovation.” He then happily announced that “I’m moving one of my Shark Tank companies to West Virginia,” saying of the Mountain State “I love the leadership! I like the policy” that encourages “a larger, wider, more diverse economy in West Virginia.”
He ended with “I love Babydog!”
Queen introduced New York native Riki Franco who, along with her husband Oron, pitched their Prime 6 product on the Shark Tank program. Prime 6 uses long hollow sticks fashioned from natural materials as a substitute. They haggled a bit with O’Leary before accepting his offer.
A year ago at the suggestion of O’Leary, the Francos broke ground on a $5 million manufacturing facility in Fairmont. Ironically, this put them about 6 miles from the Tucker County forests where Henry Ford and Edward G. Kingsford first used charcoal, a product they invented for fast cooking on camping trips.
Franco shared that in Fairmont “we landed on a phenomenal place there. I saw the diamond in the rough.” The family appreciated the opportunity in “making my personal dream come true, allowing us to grow in this community.”
Starting in March, potential contestants share their business information as part of a pitch to participate.
In August, the Chamber announces the five finalists who will make their pitches in person to judges during the competition. From then until the contest, mentors help each contestant polish their pitch. Contestants in the Harrison County version create a video that judges get to evaluate ahead of time, but must also sell their idea in person on stage as well.
One important difference between the local event and television production is that judges will not employ the sometimes brutal criticism and even ridicule that accompanies poorly prepared pitches or presenters on television. Adam Rowh, committee chair, told WAJR Radio earlier this year that “judges are really focused on encouraging you and helping you and asking you good questions for your business.”
This makes the participation more enjoyable, especially since many of those who come want to support family, friends, and/or colleagues.
What was once a Harrison County-only show has opened up to include Monongalia, Preston, Marion, and Taylor counties’ entrepreneurs to try.
This paid dividends in terms of the geographic spread of finalists. Orland “Junior” Underwood from Kingwood touted gravity-fed livestock feeders while Morgantown’s Yihong Li has established a business designing and producing clothes entirely locally. Natalie Feltz, who teaches food service and related courses at Pierpont is a finalist, as well.
Sonia Gonzalez took home the grand prize. Mix n Mamas uses a Callie Baby Bottle Her specially designed is engineered to feed infants safely during times of crisis, disaster, or extreme privation. It comes in a pouch that separates formula from water until time for feeding and, according to its website, is “ideal for field hospitals, refugee camps, and remote areas.”
As the grand prize winner, Gonzalez received $0,000 in cash and $0,000 in mentoring, marketing, and business administration education from a number of media outlets and area consultants. Her converted horse trailer as a mobile bar and was voted by the crowd as its favorite.
Interestingly, it is not the only such business in West Virginia. Gulp and Gallop, operated by Tasha Sponaugle and her husband former Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, has made appearances in recent years around the Potomac Highlands.
A distinguished panel of judges from around the area and across the state helped to decide which worthy contestant should receive the prize.
Dr. David Hess, CEO of WVU Medicine’s United Health Center serves as one of the five. He was joined by Mitch Carmichael, former West Virginia Secretary of Commerce, LaReta J. Lowther from Wesbanco, Adam Dyer from Blue Ridge Risk Partners, and Matt Jenkins, General Manager of Jenkins Subaru and Jenkins Hyundai.