A Port Orchard company — With Respect — is among 16 semi-finalists for the inaugural edg3 FUND small business competition sponsored by Kitsap Bank.
The bank announced the semi-finalist on July 29.
The bank received nearly 70 applications from entrepreneurs throughout Western Washington in industries ranging from food/beverages and tourism to arts, education and agriculture.
The mission of edg3 FUND is recognize entrepreneurs dedicated to growing their community economically, socially or environmentally.
“We are excited to have received applications from a number of very promising companies,” said Tony George, president and chief operations officer. “All of these innovative and hardworking business people are doing great things to promote a sustainable community and we were honored that they invested their time and effort to join our contest.”
Competition was close and the semi-final judges could not break a tie in scoring the top 15 contestants. They ultimately decided to advance 16 companies to the semi-final round.
The other 15 companies selected to participate are Cape Cleare Fishery (Port Townsend), Eleven Winery (Bainbridge Island), F.R.O.G. Soap (Bremerton), Finnriver Cidery (Chimacum), Force 10 Sailmaking and Rigging (Nordland), GoXpedition (Sequim), Monica’s Waterfront Bakery and Café (Silverdale), Moonlight Farm (Quilcene), North Kitsap Metal Recycling, LLC (Kingston), OlyKraut, LLC (Olympia), Olympic Organics, LLC (Kingston), Pawzii, Inc. (Bremerton), Projected Talent, Inc.(Issaquah), Propolis Brewing, LLC (Port Townsend) and The Food Shed (Kingston).
The next phase of the competition begins Aug. 1, when the public is invited to vote for their favorite company. Readers can go to www.kitsapbank.com/edg3-fund through Aug. 15 to view background information and videos about the 16 semi-final companies and learn how the prize money will be a game-changer for each of these companies.
Results of this vote will determine the top five finalists, who will compete in a live competition on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Harborside Conference Center in Bremerton.
The finalists will present their pitches before a live audience and an independent panel of judges. The winner will win $20,000.
