On October 7th, 2021, Business Impact NW awarded over $30,000 to entrepreneurs across the Pacific Northwest. It was the 6th annual IMPACT Pitch Competition presented by Harborstone Credit Union.

“IMPACT Pitch is what our work at Business Impact NW is all about: growing underserved small businesses so that local communities can thrive.” – Business Impact NW President and CEO, Joe Sky-Tucker

2021 Grand Prize Winners

This year, there were over 100 entrepreneurs that applied for the Impact Pitch competition, a 5-month-long, intensive program where business owners get support to build a strong business plan, model, finances, and business pitch. Only 10 finalists made it to the final round and pitched live from Imperia Lake Union on Thursday. The candidates competed for the ‘Audience Favorite Video Award’, ‘Best Startup/Idea Phase Business Award’, ‘Best Early Stage Business Award’, or ‘Best Established Business Award'. The finalists presented their best pitches to our panel of expert judges, but only 3 were awarded the grand prizes. Here they are below:

We Become

Best Startup Business Award Winner

This year's 'Best Startup Business' Award Winner is Emily Wright of We Become LLC. Emily built We Become to facilitate organizational and community change within businesses. We Become does this through workshops, trainings, courses, and coaching. They shepherd organizations through the wave of transformation the world and the 'work world' is currently experiencing.

With this award, Emily will be able to launch their business into reality, finally being able to reach more businesses that can benefit from their services.

Urban Log Studios

Best Early Stage Business Award Winner

This year’s 'Best Early Stage' Business Award goes to Andrew and Alexis Nicholls of Urban Log Studios. This husband and wife team has just founded their business in 2021! Their goal is to positively impact their community by providing necessary services to the local urban logging industry. Urban Log Studios not only offers access to traditional craftworks with fallen trees but access to sustainable forestry practices. They partner with other logging studios to build a network of support for individuals in any part of the region to have access to these services.

REWIRE

Best Established Business Award Winner

This year’s 'Best Established' Business Award Winner is Xenia Kachur of REWIRE. Xenia built REWIRE as an alternative healing practice from her own experiences with the mental health industry. With a goal to provide affordable and comprehensive care to the individual, REWIRE became a 31-minute fitness session.

The sessions aim to provide a full exercise and recovery program in just 31 minutes. With results in improved sleep, focus, cognitive, and athletic performance - Xenia hopes to take REWIRE to the next level. With this award, REWIRE can now reach more individuals in need of this technology to recover from mental health trauma such as post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety among other symptoms.