BizMIX: The Winners’ Circle

MIX Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce have announced the final four finalists for the BizMIX Challenge.
The final four were named at the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on June 7, 2012. Pants Off, Betamapper, The Way We Grow, and Soap Box Kids all will receive a portion of the $9,000 in BizMIX prize money. Other finalists were awarded a variety of business consulting services.
The specific amounts of the cash prizes will be announced at the June 21 MIXterpiece event at the Santa Fe Art Institute.

“We’re focused on cultivating the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Santa Fe and this has been an incredible process. The finalists, the mentors and judges, the MIX team; everyone involved has brought great ideas and energy to the BizMIX Challenge.  It’s been really inspiring for this community,” said Rebecca Wurzburger, Mayor Pro-Tem and Chair of the Business and Quality of Life Committee which oversees economic development for the City of Santa Fe.

BizMIX received more than 70 applicants, from which 11 finalists were chosen. Those finalists introduced their proposals to the community at the May 17 Royally MIXed event at the Palace Restaurant and Saloon. Since then, the finalists have worked with mentors to prepare business plans, which were presented to the judging panel that chose the four cash winners.

The final four finalists and cash prizewinners are:

• Haj Khalsa and Jonathan Repa, Betamapper; Betamapper is an innovative website and mobile app focused on helping outdoors enthusiasts, travelers and tourists “find their next adventure”. Betamapper also won co-working space from the Santa Fe Incubator.
• Lisa Miles, Pants Off; Pants Off is a local, handmade silkscreen underwear company with an emphasis on daring derrieres.
• Alexandra Ladd and Edie Dillman, Soapbox Kids; Soapbox Kids is a locally sourced fundraising tool for schools. Soapbox Kids also won advertising consulting from HK Advertising and triple bottom line consulting from Social Enterprise Associates.
• 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.

The following BizMIX competitors will receive business-consulting services:

• 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. Maya Tile won marketing consulting services from YMA Strategics, LLC.
• 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. Focus Biomedical won legal services from law firm Sommer, Udall, Sutin, Hardwick & Hyatt, P.A.
• Alden Markby, Meticulous Motors; Meticulous Motors aims to become Santa Fe’s premier mobile mechanic service and youth-oriented mechanic training program. Meticulous Motors won a year membership to the Santa Fe Chamber and accounting consulting services.
• Bob Kreger, Rain Vessels; RainVessels is a new patent-pending unique solution for rainwater and greywater catchment and storage. RainVessels won an affiliate membership to the Santa Fe Incubator.
• David Jondreau, CogWheel, Gear Up on Filemaker 12; This FileMaker database helps manage local GEARUP programs, which assist rural low-income high school students attend college. CogWheel won legal services.
• 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. Meow Wolf publishing won computer consulting services from Jemez Consulting.

Sponsors of the BizMIX Challenge include Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, MIXSanta Fe, Thornburg Investment Management, Northern New Mexico Connect, Century Bank, New Mexico Bank and Trust, Phase One Ventures, Sommer Udall Sutin Law Firm, LANL/LANS, Santa Fe Community Foundation – Future Fund, McCune Foundation, Santa Fe Business Incubator, City of Santa Fe Economic Development Division, Hotel Santa Fe, and the La Fonda Hotel. Media sponsors are the Santa Fe Reporter and Hutton Broadcasting.

Services sponsors included, triple bottom line consulting from Social Enterprise Associates, computer consulting from Jemez Consulting, accounting services provided by Daniel Slavin, legal services from Candice Owens from Sommer Udall Sutin, marketing services from YMA Strategics, LLC,  legal services from Talia Kosh from the Bennett Law Firm and advertising services from HK Advertising.