seCTer’s first Ledge Light Launch Pitch Competition drew a large crowd to cheer on six entrepreneurs from across the region as they pitched their start-ups to a panel of five judges.
In the end, the $7,500 prize went to Patrick Khor, a retired submariner who is working to launch an ice cream shop in Groton to honor his late father, who operated the family-run ice cream shop in New Jersey, which continues today. He’s hoping to get the new store open by early spring.
Khor was one of six finalists selected by seCTer staff from a pool of 20 applicants. Each finalist had six minutes to make their pitch to the panel of judges. Scoring was based on a rubric covering 10 areas:
Problem and market need; solution and value proposition; market opportunity; business model and revenue strategy; traction and validation; team and execution capability; go-to-market strategy; presentation and communication; innovation and competitive advantage, and overall viability and investment potential.
seCTer Economic Development Specialist Kaitlin Ferrero initiated the idea with support from R.T. Brown, Deputy Director of seCTer, and financial sponsorship from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.
Kaitlin is already planning the next Ledge Light Launch Pitch Competition for the fall and hopes to host the event on a regular basis.
We wish to extend a special Thank You to our panel of judges, which included Catherine Young, seCTer Board of Directors; Tom Gerson, startup adviser; Maria Hanna, president and CEO of Survival Systems USA of Groton; Wendy Vincent, executive director of the Cultural Coalition; and Kevin Zhang, community manager, Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.
