Pitch competitions for aspiring entrepreneurs are common in Michigan, but a new one – launched last month – focuses solely on young entrepreneurs.
The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber debuted HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence, a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their ideas and compete for cash and in-kind support to grow their businesses.
The competition featured seven contestants, with awards going to the top three, plus a special Crowd Favorite Award chosen by live audience voting. In all, the event awarded more than $65,000 in combined cash prizes and additional opportunities.
"Supporting young entrepreneurs is central to our mission of driving economic growth and innovation in Southwest Michigan," said Arthur Havlicek, president & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. "This makes HYPE more than a competition—it’s an investment in the visionaries who will lead our region into the future, and we’re proud to provide them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed."
What’s happening: The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber last month debuted HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence. The event provides a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their ideas and compete for funding and in-kind support to launch or grow their businesses. The competition was open to aspiring entrepreneurs ages 21 to 40. The event began with a panel discussion featuring successful young entrepreneurs, who shared their entrepreneurial journeys, offered valuable insights, and later served as judges for the pitch competition.
The top three winners:
Zo’s Mini Donuts, Zoey and Lydia Heyn, Sawyer, first place, $15,000. They plan to purchase a new food truck or trailer, enabling them to expand to three locations for the summer 2025 season and beyond.
Willowbrook Farms, Vanessa Frias, Cassopolis, second place, $10,000. Frias plans to invest in a 12-foot-by-15-foot walk-in freezer, increasing storage capacity by 30 percent for pasture-raised meat and supporting equivalent business growth.
Muddy Puddles Preschool, Angela and Ricky Rhodes, Stevensville, third place, $5,000. The pair intend to use the funds toward purchasing property for their next school building, allowing them to expand their educational offerings.
These projects highlight the creativity, determination, and community-focused vision of “our local entrepreneurs, made even stronger by the support and presence of key community partners,” said Jasmine Hansen, who is membership engagement manager for the chamber and program lead for HYPE.
Crowd favorite: Hyde’s Lifestyle Taekwondo, James Hyde, St. Joseph, $2,500. Hyde plans to use the money for advertising and marketing and other plans, including investing in a float fund to make classes accessible to low-income families.
“The winner was chosen by the audience through live voting, giving everyone a chance to participate in the decision. At the time of voting, the top three winners had not yet been revealed, keeping the results a surprise. Hyde's Lifestyle Taekwondo stood out with an engaging pitch that included a demonstration from its students, leaving a lasting impression and earning the audience's votes,” Hansen said.
Event sponsors: Frederick S. Upton Foundation and Whirlpool Foundation, along with Horizon Bank, Chi Ishobak, Sturgis Bank, Berecz & Associates, Silver Beach Pizza, Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan, WAUS 90.7 FM, Watermark Brewing Company, Andrews University Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Michigan SBDC, SCORE of Kalamazoo / Southwest Michigan, and Strauss Training.
Surprise announcement: Chi Ishobak revealed that all winners would also be eligible for additional funding through their Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), effectively increasing their award amounts and providing even greater resources for their entrepreneurial endeavors.
About the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber: The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is a non-profit business advocacy and collective-impact organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. Established in 1954, the Chamber works to strengthen regional assets, advocate for regional priorities, and cultivate an economic ecosystem that prepares the region for future opportunities.
www.smrchamber.com.
What’s next: There are plans to make the pitch an annual event. Hansen said the inaugural event “set a strong foundation for future efforts to champion entrepreneurship and sustain growth across Southwest Michigan.
” In the short term, the initiative provided immediate exposure for businesses, highlighting their potential and achievements. “Looking ahead, the goal is to position our region as a welcoming and supportive environment where entrepreneurs can invest, grow, and thrive,” she said.
For more information about HYPE or the Chamber’s initiatives, visit
www.smrchamber.com.