Ten startups set to compete in Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood's Pitch Perfect contest

KENOSHA — Ten startups will be competing for a $5,000 first prize during the the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood’s inaugural Pitch Perfect contest next month.

The finalists, who were selected earlier this month, are:

• Thomas Edwards, Evergreen Energy, Kenosha

• Emily Honor Hubbard, Empathic Engineering, Cudahy

• Yurii Baleha, Vendlot, Lake Geneva

• Bradley Steckart, Sit By Me, Mequon

• Sidney Gang Skip the Warm-Up, Waukesha

• Bekki Yang, WorkShift, Menomonee Falls

• Sarah Mack, Offline Wine, Lake Geneva

• Sean Tepper, Tykr, Wauwatosa

• Rachel Gage, Caregiver Compass, Racine

• Aaron Colcord, Voyager AI, Mequon

The entrepreneurs will make their cases to a panel of judges, much like the popular reality TV show “Shark Tank,” where contestants try to convince investors that their innovation or idea deserves support.

KIN President Kelly Armstrong called the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Kenosha Innovation Center, 5522 26th Ave., “a regional launchpad for innovation and connection.” 

Pitch Perfect is a collaboration among the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Racine County Economic Development Corporation and Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, with partners Carthage College, the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Gateway Technical College, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Technology Council and Tech-Prize.

As part of the program, Kenosha entrepreneur Landon McKinnis, founder of Private Grooming LLC and creator of the innovative grooming device Go Nutz, will present an overview of his startup journey and how he ultimately landed on "Shark Tank."

For more information or to register to attend, visit www.innovatekin.org/event-details/pitch-perfect