After seeing the success of the launchpads in Laramie, IMPACT Casper began offering the annual opportunity for local entrepreneurs and innovators in and around Natrona County. With a strong community support, the Casper Start-Up Challenge has quickly become a premier event for entrepreneurs looking to share their ideas and goals with the business community in the area.
Each year, IMPACT 307 looks for individuals across our locations who are interested in starting a new business or early-stage entrepreneurs wanting to grow. Through the local Start-Up Challenges, IMPACT 307 provides a monetary incentive and the business support needed for contestants to act on their ideas.
Since offering the Start-Up Challenge in Casper in late 2016, we’ve seen how impactful the competition, and corresponding funding, has been on the local entrepreneurial community. After the application process, finalists are selected to compete for a free year in IMPACT Casper’s incubator and will be eligible to apply for additional seed funding.
In addition to winning a top prize, each finalist will gain business process knowledge throughout the competition helping them to launch and grow their business once the challenge is completed. The resources given throughout the phases of the challenge will improve the success rates for each entrepreneur.
“Participating in the Casper Start-Up Challenge is such a valuable process to go through. The quality of the program is excellent. We were provided with some really helpful direction for our business that has guided us through these early days. We were also able to get some starter equipment to help us get our prototypes going thanks to the seed funding. This is a great resource for anyone who wants to get an idea up off the ground,” said Amber Pollock of Piggyback Cocktails, a 2019 Casper Start-Up Challenge finalist and funded company.
IMPACT Casper serves as a hub of innovation and resources for founders. Our Casper location currently houses four anchor tenants and ten client companies. Nearly every Casper tenant has competed in the Casper Start-Up challenge over the past five years. Check out some of the past finalists and start-ups making an IMPACT in Casper.
To view more information, the rules and regulations, and the application for the Casper Start-Up Challenge, head to our website. Applications for the 2021 competition are currently open, but close January 26th. If you have a great idea for a business, have a start-up that needs an extra boost towards growth, apply today!