BizMIX finalists announced!

MIX Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce have announced 11 finalists for the BizMIX Challenge, a business-plan competition that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors, business-development resources and $10,000 worth of start-up funding and services.

The competition received 74 applications, with ideas ranging from new music venues to developing specialty food trucks to biotechnology start-ups and agricultural grow-bags.

Read more about BizMIX in today’s Santa Fe New Mexican and The Santa Fe Reporter.

Finalists will pitch their ideas to the public at Royally MIXed: 6 pm, Thursday, May 17, the third Thursday MIX event at the Palace Restaurant and Saloon. Attendees will be able to vote and the crowd favorite will win a cash prize.

Over the next few weeks, finalists will work with mentors to prepare an in-depth business plan. On May 31, finalists will present their business plans to a panel of judges. Grand finalists will be announced at the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on June 7. Three grand finalists will showcase their business ideas at MIX’s third Thursday event June 21, at which the grand prizewinner will be announced.

The finalists are:
● Haj Khalsa, Betamapper; Betamapper allows users to plan and map outdoor sports adventures.
● Alexandra Ladd, Soapbox Kids; Soapbox Kids is a locally sourced fundraising tool for schools.
● Ryan Helean, Maya Tile; Maya Tile plans to introduce its one-of-a-kind leaded crystal cast glass tiles into luxury markets in the U.S. and internationally.
● Robert Applegate, Focus Biomedical LLC; Focus Biomedical, LLC. is a boutique, high-technology firm headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, specializing in the research, development, and commercialization of passive particle and cell focusing technologies for use in biotechnology.
● Alden Markby, Meticulous Motors; Meticulous Motors aims to become Santa Fe’s premier mobile mechanic service and youth oriented mechanic training program.
● Bob Kreger, Rain Vessels; RainVessels is a new patent-pending unique solution for rainwater and greywater catchment and storage.
● Lisa Miles, Pants Off; Pants Off is a local, handmade silkscreen underwear company with an emphasis on daring derrieres.
● Bryan Mayhall, Papa Dulce; Papa Dulce (“Sweet Potato” in Spanish) is a vegan food truck serving up delicious, organic, plant-based dishes using locally-sourced farm produce and products.
● Sattva Ananda, The Way We Grow; The Way We Grow is a multi faceted company manufacturing, designing and developing revolutionary tools for the agricultural world.
● David Jondreau, Gear Up on Filemaker 12; This FileMaker database manages local GEARUP programs, which assist rural low-income high school students attend college.
● Christopher Johnson, Meow Wolf Publishing; Meow Wolf Publishing aims to make the works of Meow Wolf authors and artists available in both traditional and electronic formats.