Round Rock Library names winner of business plan competition

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, left, and runner-up Mandy Kelly pose with Round Rock Mayor Craig Morton, 2nd from still left, and Assistant City Manager Brooks Bennett all through the ultimate spherical of the Spherical Rock General public Library’s Business enterprise Approach Opposition on Tuesday at the City Council chambers.

Entrepreneur Katie Kehlenbach won the $10,000 grand prize on Tuesday in initial Spherical Rock Community Library’ Biz.potential business enterprise plan competitiveness.

Kehlenbach, who won with her structure of a barbell collar, will receive $7,500, a Dell laptop program value $2,500 and a consultation with a Dell Technological innovation skilled. Mandy Kelly was named runner-up and won $3,500. The competitors was specific to Round Rock-primarily based startup entrepreneurs.

“I’m actually fired up,” explained Kehlenbach, who is the co-founder of AdderLock. “It truly is pleasant to hear the validation, when you have been constructing a company for many years and to kind of frequently be validated by consumers or people today who are fascinated and people who see the trouble that you’re solving.”

Katie Kehlenbach

Katie Kehlenbach

Kehlenbach received for her patented barbell collar that makes it possible for for a more quickly attachment and detachment as opposed to current collars that make the system difficult. Kehlenbach claimed throughout her pitch that the collar will enable consumers weight lifters to maximize their teaching time without the extra headache.

Kehlenbach stated she was motivated to produce 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 clarifies her small business approach to the judges of the Spherical Rock Public Library’s business enterprise system level of competition.

Kehlenbach said she was enthusiastic about getting into the level of competition because even if she did not earn, she would appear out of it with a small business strategy that she could use.

“That nudge of encouragement and then comprehension all the equipment we have access to as a result of the library is super thrilling,” Kehlenbach mentioned.

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As part of the levels of competition, entrants experienced to create a small business program and the library provided free of charge ZOOM workshops to assistance them begin, produce and maintain their firms. They also achieved with an advisor from Austin Score, a nonprofit that mentors little businesses.

Kehlenbach reported she will use the prize funds to make the products with a 3D printer.

Mandy Kelly

Mandy Kelly

Kelly was chosen as runner-up for her organization concept, Liberty Doggy RRTX. Her small business helps make smaller-batch pet foods and treats adhering to Texas Cottage Food stuff suggestions to give chemical-absolutely free nutrition to dogs.

“I am pretty satisfied that I bought runner-up,” Kelly reported. “(There) was a ton of wonderful competition (and) it was a great procedure, functioning with a Score mentor was amazing, I learned a ton.”

Kelly claimed in the course of her pitch that she was encouraged to get started her canine foods organization right after the identify-model puppy food items she used was recalled.

“Our mission is to liberate puppies from chemical substances,” Kelly explained.

Mandy Kelly explains her business plan to the business plan competition judges at the Round Rock City Council chambers.

Mandy Kelly clarifies her business system to the small business program levels of competition judges at the Round Rock Town Council chambers.

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The competition started off with 17 business owners from which six finalists have been selected. The finalists presented their business enterprise program to a panel of 6 judges that involved an assistant city supervisor, regional business owners, chamber of commerce management and Dell personnel.

The other four finalists were:

  • Colette Hammons, CEO of Mahacobo, a business that results in customized gifts crafted in wooden

  • Eric Kapinus, owner of VinoSwag, a organization that allows other corporations endorse by themselves via tailored bottles of wine

  • Patricia Powell, who operates Spherical Rock Cleaning Companies

  • Robin Lawrence. founder of Lil Dumpling Publication, which aims to fill in a void in availability of English/Mandarin children’s publications.

The opponents were being judged on their business enterprise program, powerful use and effect of the prize cash, powerful use of the city’s library details and research instruments, local community effects and viability of their organization product, according to the competition’s system.

“It’s constantly appealing to check out tiny enterprise house owners test to start off their small business and see their passions, their blood, sweat and tears,” Mayor Craig Morgan mentioned throughout the levels of competition. “I’m fired up to seem for critical techniques to keep on to enable entrepreneurs and build a ecosystem to make certain that you’re in a position to develop suitable right here in the town of Spherical Rock.”

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

This report at first appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Spherical Rock Library names winner of company prepare competition