Round Rock Library names winner of business plan competition

Grand prize winner Katie Kehlenbach, left, and runner-up Mandy Kelly pose with Round Rock Mayor Craig Morton, second from left, and Assistant City Manager Brooks Bennett during the final round of the Round Rock Public Library's Business Plan Competition on Tuesday at the City Council chambers. — Grand prize winner Katie Kehlenbach, remaining, and runner-up Mandy Kelly pose with Spherical Rock Mayor Craig Morton, next from still left, and Assistant Metropolis Supervisor Brooks Bennett in the course of the last round of the Round Rock Public Library’s Company System Opposition on Tuesday at the Metropolis Council chambers.

Entrepreneur Katie Kehlenbach received the $10,000 grand prize on Tuesday in very first Round Rock Community Library’ Biz.capability small business approach opposition.

Kehlenbach, who received with her style and design of a barbell collar, will acquire $7,500, a Dell pc program worth $2,500 and a session with a Dell Engineering expert. Mandy Kelly was named runner-up and won $3,500. The competition was focused to Round Rock-based mostly startup business owners.

“I am really thrilled,” reported Kehlenbach, who is the co-founder of AdderLock. “It is great to hear the validation, when you have been creating a enterprise for many years and to variety of continuously be validated by customers or folks who are fascinated and individuals who see the dilemma that you’re fixing.”

Kehlenbach gained for her patented barbell collar that permits for a faster attachment and detachment in contrast to existing collars that make the method tricky. Kehlenbach stated throughout her pitch that the collar will enable customers weight lifters to increase their coaching time devoid of the excess stress.

Kehlenbach stated she was motivated to make AdderLock by her struggles with lifting barbells.

Katie Kehlenbach explains her business plan to the judges of the Round Rock Public Library's business plan competition. — Katie Kehlenbach explains her organization plan to the judges of the Spherical Rock Public Library’s small business system level of competition.

Kehlenbach claimed she was fired up about getting into the levels of competition for the reason that even if she did not earn, she would appear out of it with a organization program that she could use.

“That nudge of encouragement and then comprehending all the resources we have obtain to as a result of the library is tremendous remarkable,” Kehlenbach claimed.

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As aspect of the competition, entrants experienced to build a company approach and the library made available cost-free ZOOM workshops to assistance them start off, acquire and manage their companies. They also achieved with an advisor from Austin Score, a nonprofit that mentors little companies.

Kehlenbach claimed she will use the prize funds to make the merchandise with a 3D printer.

Kelly was picked out as runner-up for her business enterprise concept, Liberty Doggy RRTX. Her business helps make modest-batch canine foodstuff and treats pursuing Texas Cottage Foodstuff rules to provide chemical-cost-free nourishment to canines.

“I am quite joyful that I obtained runner-up,” Kelly said. “(There) was a good deal of good rivals (and) it was a wonderful procedure, operating with a Score mentor was superb, I discovered a whole lot.”

Kelly mentioned in the course of her pitch th
at she was inspired to begin her pet dog meals business after the identify-model pet food stuff she utilised was recalled.

“Our mission is to liberate dogs from chemical substances,” Kelly mentioned.

Mandy Kelly explains her business plan to the business plan competition judges at the Round Rock City Council chambers. — Mandy Kelly describes her organization plan to the business plan levels of competition judges at the Round Rock Town Council chambers.

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The competitiveness began with 17 business people from which six finalists ended up selected. The finalists introduced their company strategy to a panel of six judges that integrated an assistant city supervisor, local entrepreneurs, chamber of commerce management and Dell workers.

The other four finalists were:

Colette Hammons, CEO of Mahacobo, a business enterprise that makes personalized gifts crafted in wooden
Eric Kapinus, proprietor of VinoSwag, a corporation that assists other companies encourage themselves via customized bottles of wine
Patricia Powell, who operates Round Rock Cleansing Companies
Robin Lawrence. founder of Lil Dumpling Publication, which aims to fill in a void in availability of English/Mandarin children’s books.

The competitors were being judged on their enterprise strategy, successful use and effect of the prize money, successful use of the city’s library info and study resources, community impact and viability of their business model, according to the competition’s program.

“It’s generally intriguing to watch modest organization owners check out to start off their small business and see their passions, their blood, sweat and tears,” Mayor Craig Morgan mentioned for the duration of the competitors. “I’m thrilled to glance for important approaches to keep on to aid business people and create a ecosystem to make guaranteed that you are equipped to increase appropriate listed here in the town of Round Rock.”

The competitiveness was declared by the Spherical Rock Library in January and was impressed by the New York Community Library business opposition.

This short article at first appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Spherical Rock Library names winner of small business system competitors