BizMixLogoFinalThe Butcher, The Retailer, The Hard Cider Maker, They all sailed out to sea…

But there’s a lot more than a butcher, a retailer and TWO hard cider makers in this competition!

Eleven teams will compete as finalists in bizMIX 2013, the annual business plan competition conducted by professional networking and economic development group MIX Santa Fe. Finalists were chosen from more than 50 applicants.

More than $15,000 in business-building cash and professional resources will be awarded to the best of this year’s finalists when the competition culminates this October.

The public’s first chance to interact with these hungry New Mexico entrepreneurs will be at the Santa Fe Chamber Business Awards at 6 pm on June 6, 2013 at the Santa Fe Farmers Market building in the Railyard. The contestants will be pitching audience members who will vote on their favorite business idea of the night. The night’s crowd favorite will receive $500 and a confidence boost going into the intensive mentorship and business plan development coaching that finalists receive as part of their participation.

Kathrin Schlenzig of Iota Group, a Santa Fe-based business development firm, offered early mentorship at an orientation meeting for this year’s finalists: “It’s a tremendous opportunity to meet young entrepreneurs, a great opportunity to see energy and creativity in Santa Fe. It’s great to see people focused and know what they want. Even talking initially to the finalists tonight and then again at the end—just this session alone has gotten them to get things in focus.”

Finalist Mickey Small is enthusiastic about the potential for the competition to help launch her business: “It’s exciting to be thrown in with other entrepreneurs to get the mentoring and be able to hone our skills over the next few months.”

Mike Zercher, among the finalists with a business that touches on agricultural issues in New Mexico, expressed excitement “to be a part of this community building, creating a more vibrant town and local food economy.”

Finalist businesses range from local food and agriculture concepts—including locally produced hard ciders, a mobile milking schoolyard and a farm-to-table restaurant concept—to flat-pack manufacturing of chicken houses and disaster relief shelters. There are also concepts in retail, local lending and wireless access.

Participating Finalists and Business:
Daniel Slavin with Util Lending
Mike Zercher with Santa Fe Hard Cider, LLC
Bridget Love with Mobile Milking Schoolyard
Marquee Reno with Mordimer Fox
Bill Roth with Acme Happy Chicken Company
Dexter Taylor (& Eileen Foster) with Cleaver in Hand (an old-fashioned butchery)
Dylan Merrigan with KoKoNet
Craig Moya with Manzana Muerte Hard Cider
Teo and Megan Griscom with Galisteo Farms
Vince DiGregory with Litehouse International, Inc.
Micky Small and Awbrey Willett with Lube Ladies

The bizMIX 2013 competition would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors in the community. Please join MIX in thanking these visionary supporters.

Sponsors to date:
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico Bank and Trust
City of Santa Fe Economic Development
Hutton Broadcasting
SFReporter
Positive Energy Solar
LANL Technology Transfer Division
The Owens Law Firm, P.C.
Xpress
Century Bank
Los Alamos National Security, LLC
SF County
Sarcon Construction
Iota Group
Inn & Spa at Loretto
La Fonda

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