South Seattle College glowed green and gold as more than 150 people found their seats. Another hundred-plus joined from across the region virtually, with a lively Oregon Watch Party—hosted by Unitus and Point West Credit Unions—pulling in 30+ supporters in Tigard. It was my fifth IMPACT Pitch, and as the music faded, I smiled and thought, and we’re off to the races.
THREE TRACKS, ONE GOAL
IMPACT Pitch runs in three tracks—Startup/Idea, Early-Stage, and Established—so you can see different points on the path. Emcee Travis Mayfield set the pace from the first beat: a short intro for the first startup, smooth handoffs, then stepped back so the founders could own the stage.
Being on the logistics side of the event, I get to see the bond this competition forms. During rehearsal, finalists’ nerves are easy to spot; meeting each other for the first time can feel like a quiet competition. By showtime, the tone has completely changed—shoulder squeezes, high-fives, and a front-row cheering section have formed on their own. That shift is what IMPACT Pitch builds: community around the work. It’s my favorite part every year.
During rehearsal I caught Joshua Yocum from Crutch Carries in the hallway. He’s pitched four times in the last three months, and what stood out here wasn’t one moment—it was the runway:
“This was the best experience of the season for me. The rehearsal time, the clear prep leading up to the night, and the support through the very end—it all added up.”
STARTUP/IDEA – THREE BEGINNINGS
The evening opened with three early concepts—LoThao Asain Market LLC, Idahome Wild, Abraxas Jiu-Jitsu —each laying out the change they want to make with their business.
From the stage, Gwen Roote of Abraxas Jiu-Jitsu grounded the room in purpose:
“Abraxas Jiu-Jitsu is more than a gym. It’s a gathering place built on respect, resilience, and inclusion.”
EARLY-STAGE — MOMENTUM ERA
The largest category of the night featured TJ’s Street Tacos, Crutch Carries, Mina’s Matcha, YES MA! Backyard Farm, and Sookh. This block showed momentum—teams and individuals already serving customers and working through the next step.
Amina Aden of Mina’s Matcha highlighted why she started her business:
“I started this out of my love for matcha and the joy it brings when it’s made with care.”
ESTABLISHED — EXPERIENCE ON DISPLAY
The final block featured ASCI Federal Services and Mixed Pantry—businesses already operating and looking to reach further.
Christine Hopkins of ASCI Federal Services made the case for operations as impact:
“We help businesses manage complex supply chains so that they can grow sustainably and deliver on what they promise.”
A NOTE FROM THE CEO
After intermission, Travis brought us back and introduced Joe Sky-Tucker, President and CEO of Business Impact NW. Joe reflected on why this competition exists—so any kind of business can win, and so we can show how small businesses make their communities better. Then he shared the stakes:
“Some of the people on stage come from communities that are being erased, targeted, and killed. If we can look away, then we have the comfort and the privilege of doing so. So don’t look away. Personally, we all just need to do a little bit more. Together, we can solve this.”
It landed because the evening had already shown what “together” looks like—founders cheering each other on, alumni making introductions, supporters saying yes.
AND THE ENVELOPES
The second half moved quickly—speeches and donor and sponsor thank yous—and then the room held its breath. When the winners were called, smiling faces and supportive competitors exhaled together. All the hard work paid off (literally).
- Marketing Video: TJ’s Street Tacos — Pablo Vazquez
- Startup/Idea-Stage: LoThao Asian Market LLC — Kia Lo
- Early-Stage: YES MA! Backyard Farm — Adfia Bristol
- Established: Mixed Pantry, LLC — Takeshi Kunimune
If you want to meet everyone who took the stage this year, you can explore the full slate of finalists here: See all 2025 finalists.
Harborstone Credit Union has been with IMPACT Pitch for all ten years—thank you for believing in this work from the start. To everyone who came for the first time to see what IMPACT Pitch is about, we’re glad you were in the room. And to every alum, coach, judge, staff member, volunteer, and partner who steadied the weeks leading up to the show: you made the night feel like a community, not just a competition.
When the lights came up, no one rushed out. People gathered for photos, one last conversation, and a few “text me, I want to hear more” hugs for the finalists. Ten years in, the ripple is clear: entrepreneurs leave this competition with more than feedback and prize checks—they leave with people in their corner.
If you’d like to follow what comes next for these businesses, subscribe to our newsletter here. And if you want to keep nights like this possible, you can support Business Impact NW here: Donate.
About the author
(fAYth ham-uhl-tuhn)
As Senior External Affairs Manager at Business Impact NW, Faith provides strategic oversight for marketing, website management, and organizational events, ensuring day-to-day efforts align with broader organizational goals. She acts as the project manager for key events, coordinating timelines, deliverables, and cross-departmental collaboration while maintaining consistency in branding and messaging. Faith holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Central Washington University.