IMPACT 307, Sheridan’s business incubator, has chosen five finalists for the Sheridan
Start-Up Challenge entrepreneur competition.

Finalists will make their presentations at Pitch Night beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday,
Nov. 1, at the WYO Theater, located at 42 N. Main St. in Sheridan. Each finalist has
an opportunity to win business funding from the $100,000 seed fund established for
the event.

IMPACT 307, with business incubators in various cities around the state, is a business
development program of the University of Wyoming. It is a not-for-profit business
incubator system that provides startup and early-stage companies with the expertise,
networks and tools necessary for the development of successful businesses. It is administered
by UW’s Research and Economic Development Division.

“Each year, there are a number of intriguing business ideas submitted for consideration
by Sheridan-area residents,” says Scot Rendall, IMPACT Sheridan director. “Out of
this process, founders launching new ventures will continue to help our local economy
and provide products and services that address needs locally, regionally and, in many
cases, nationwide.”

The following is a summary of the finalists, including the company names, the entrepreneurs
and their business ideas:

— IXNAY, founded by Anna Bailey, is a phone app that will provide on-the-spot information
about food content and alert users to any ingredients that are harmful or not preferred
for consumption.

— Big Horn Records, founded by Shawn Day, is a record label company set up to represent
and promote emerging and established “Wyoming-grown” music artists.

— Pilot Project Solutions, founded by Bret Noecker, is working to develop and deploy
a waste-to-product operation to convert plastic and municipal waste into valuable
carbon products such as graphite or graphene.

— NotFoundBot, founded by Travis Todd, is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence-powered
redirection to assist e-commerce internet users experiencing “404 not found” errors.

— Van Dorsten Custom Firearms, founded by Scott Van Dorsten, is an innovative design
company of a scout rifle-scope mount that can be used to convert a bolt-action rifle
to a scout rifle, and other firearm accessories.

This year’s challenge attracted 35 applicants representing a wide variety of business
ideas that would serve Sheridan and the region. A judging panel composed of area entrepreneurs
and business consultants reviewed the applications and selected 11 plans for a semifinal
round that was held Sept. 28-29. The semifinalists had the opportunity to present
their ideas and meet the judges in person. The panel then selected the five finalists.

The finalists will spend the next month working with IMPACT 307 to continue development
of their plans and respond to judges’ questions and feedback that were provided during
the semifinal round. In addition to the possibility of seed funding, Pitch Night will
allow the finalists to showcase and promote their ideas to a live audience. Livestreaming
of the event will be offered by Sheridan Media for those community members not able
to attend in person.

The Sheridan Start-Up Challenge is made possible through the support of Sheridan County,
the city of Sheridan, the Wyoming Business Council, and the Homer and Mildred Scott
Foundation.

For more information, call Rendall at (307) 675-1939 or email srendall@uwyo.edu.