October 2023 - RevRoad

RevRoad Entrepreneur Competition Fall 2023 Winners Announced

RevRoad is proud to announce the winners of the Fall 2023 semi-annual Entrepreneur Competition, sponsored by Central Bank.

As a beacon for emerging startups, both in high-growth and lifestyle sectors, the competition provides a platform for participants to showcase their innovations. With an impressive lineup of judges, this competition is an ideal arena for entrepreneurs to forge connections, receive valuable feedback, and hone their pitching skills.

The Fall 2023 edition broke the standing record of applicants, bringing in over 200 startups nationwide. From this pool, the top 36 companies were invited to attend the in-person pitch competition on Oct 14, 2023 at the UVU Keller Business Building.

Of those top companies, the following companies received awards with over $30,000 of value.

$15,000 Central Bank Grand Prize winner – Gnara

RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill, Gnara Founder Georgia Grace Edwards, CB Vault Executive Director Jake McHargue

Gnara is on a mission to help everyone answer nature’s call (quite literally) via our patented GoFly zipper technology. We’re revolutionizing women’s clothing and adapting it for everyone’s needs—from hiking to serving on the front lines—through innovative and inclusive design that makes people feel safe, comfortable and confident to explore as they are, whether at work or at play.

$5,000 Runner up – Team Nation Sports

Team Nation Sports CEO Whitney Clayton, RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill, Team Nation Sports Co-Founder Matt Clayton

Team Nation Sports builds software that turns sports learning into games on phones. The company believes that if you can learn how to learn football, you can learn how to learn anything.

$2,500 3rd place – ILLA

RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill, ILLA Founder Tana Hoffman

ILLA is an AI-driven adventure platform for women+ who walk, run, ski, hike, bike, climb, paddle, surf, brap, and more!

$1,000 Fan Favorite – KAXI

Kaxi is a women’s hair accessory company that focuses on both style, function, and most importantly — hair health!

WTCUtah Trailblazer Award (Value) – Nani Swimwear

RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill, Nani Swimwear Fo-Founders Jana Barlow and Amy Rasmussen, WTCUtah COO David Carlebach

Nani embraces strength and confidence with active swimwear that not only looks good but feels good. Designed with adventurous women in mind, Nani is made for movement. Nani is the Hawaiian word for “beautiful”, and our mission is to create active swimwear that empowers women of all shapes and sizes to #livenani by seeking adventure, being kind, and striving to give back.

Kiln Membership Award (Value) & Thread Consumer Product Award (Cash) – Powder Baby LLC

RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill, Powder Baby LLC Founder Kylee Black, Kiln CEO and Co-Founder Arian Lewis

RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill, Powder Baby LLC Founder Kylee Black, Thread Wallets Co-Founder McKenzie Bauer

Powder Baby LLC provides dry shampoo that is made of 5 natural , vegan, ingredients. The products are packaged in a paper bottle that is completely biodegradable and healthy for the environment. It is the only dry shampoo on the market to come in 5 unique colors that match your hair shade and leave absolutely no residue. Because the dry shampoo is made with only powder and no aerosol, it is more effective in absorbing grease long term and keeping your hair healthy, smooth, and looking clean.

We Congratulate the winners and offer our heartfelt gratitude to everyone that participated in this pitch competition!

We couldn’t have done it without our incredible judges, sponsors Central Bank of Utah, Squire & Company, PC and RevRoad Capital, and all the competitors, team members, and community who came together.

For information about future RevRoad Entrepreneur Competitions, please visit ecomp.revroad.com.

RevRoad Partners with Kiln to Open Doors of Provo Coworking Location This Fall

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023— RevRoad, a sweat-equity firm for startup companies, is proud to partner with Kiln to host entrepreneurs in a coworking space at their new location at River’s Edge on University development in Provo, UT. The new flex-office opened its doors to membership holders on September 18, 2023, allowing the RevRoad team, RevRoad portfolio companies, and other local startups to claim their new office space. To mark the beginning of this new partnership, RevRoad and Kiln will host a panel discussion on Friday, October 20th, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, featuring Arian Lewis, CEO & Co-Founder of Kiln, alongside Derrin Hill, CEO & Co-Founder of RevRoad. They will share their insights about entrepreneurship, partnerships, and growing into new markets.

In partnership with Brighton Development, Kiln’s 40,000 square-foot, handcrafted facility provides an amenity-rich, all-inclusive workspace experience for creatives, startups, and enterprise teams. This co-working space is set to become a center of gravity for Provo’s vibrant entrepreneurial community. This beloved corner of Provo, following years of demolition and reconstruction, is now a revitalized hub for visionary entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“I have always loved Provo, not only because I was raised here, but also because it has been home to so many impressive founders and companies,” says Arian Lewis, CEO of Kiln. “We couldn’t be more excited to introduce the Kiln community to all the good that this ecosystem already has to offer. We were very impressed with Brighton Development’s vision and creative plan for River’s Edge. What we are building together in Provo will be world-class, showcasing the future of flexible and experiential workspace.”

Provo continues to thrive with a near-uninterrupted title of America’s “top-performing city” in annual economic rankings by the Milken Institute. Its active population, strong talent pipeline, and dynamic entrepreneurial scene draws hugely successful companies like Vivint and Qualtrics, while nearby Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University both feature impressive entrepreneurial centers and mentorship programs.

“The days of Plumtree Plaza lying dormant as an eyesore to our community are over with the transformative development well-underway at River’s Edge on University,” says Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. “Creating economic vibrancy requires the right timing and team. With both now in place, our promise to reinvent spaces for new generations to enjoy is underway. Kiln is an ideal example, with their innovative work concept not only expanding job opportunities, but re-envisioning the entire industry.”

The standalone facility is conveniently located just ten minutes from I-15, centered between the major thoroughfares of State Street and University Blvd. The 28-acre mixed-use development features popular restaurants and shops, as well as premium apartment units (The Lofts at River’s Edge) and townhouse style condos (The Towns at River’s Edge). As the anchor tenant of River’s Edge development, Kiln’s flexible office and coworking community will provide a full-scale list of amenities for individuals and teams of 1–100. Kiln offers club memberships for individuals, private offices for small teams, and enterprise suites for large teams.

RevRoad CEO Derrin Hill said about the partnership, “Our mission at RevRoad has always been to empower startups and entrepreneurs, working shoulder-to-shoulder with them on their journey to success. Kiln shares this commitment and demonstrates that by creating a vibrant ecosystem of collaborative workspaces and community engagement. It’s the perfect marriage of our shared values and vision, where innovation thrives and entrepreneurs flourish. Together, we are redefining what it means to support and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit, and we couldn’t be more excited about the incredible possibilities that lie ahead.”

Many hands have been involved in helping this project come to life, including The City of Provo, Nate Pugsley of Brighton Development, Eric and Brycen Woodley of Woodley Real Estate, Lance Pendleton of Mountain West Commercial, and Dan Teed and Taylor Carpenter of Mint.

Kiln and RevRoad intend to host a myriad of events that bring the community of entrepreneurs together, many of which will be open to the general public. Learn more at kiln.com and revroad.com/events.

Kiln Provo address: 2250 N University Pkwy, Provo, UT 84604.

For press inquiries contact kyle@kiln.com and brittany.ouimette@revroad.com.

About Kiln

Kiln is currently home to more than 4,000 members and 1,200 businesses across 12 locations in Utah, Colorado, California, Idaho, and Oregon. Founded in 2018, Kiln is expanding across the Mountain West and West Coast, with several additional locations under development in varying stages. A full list of locations can be found here. Kiln’s founding team, composed of co-founder/CEO Arian Lewis and co-founder/creative director Leigh Radford, has been at the forefront of design, operations, and innovation within the flex-office and coworking industries for the better part of two decades. Lewis and Radford have collaborated on the launch of prior coworking brands, with international locations spanning London, New York, Tel Aviv, Cape Town, Mumbai, and Lithuania. Learn more at kiln.com.

About RevRoad

RevRoad is a sweat-equity partner for scaling companies, dedicated to achieving the full value of startups. The company empowers portfolio companies to maximize profitability, get to market faster, and create a solid foundation for their venture. RevRoad team members work shoulder-to-shoulder with portfolio companies, enabling businesses to scale efficiently while keeping founders in the driver’s seat. Visit revroad.com to learn more and apply to become the next portfolio company.

###

Pitch Deck Template – Get Ready to Pitch Investors or Compete in a Pitch Competition

Mobly pitching at RevRoad's entrepreneur compeition

What are pitch decks?

A pitch deck is a concise presentation (usually made in Google Slides or PowerPoint) that provides an overview of a business, typically delivered to potential investors, partners, or stakeholders. It serves as a visual aid to communicate key aspects of a startup’s vision, mission, product or service, market opportunity, financial projections, and team. Pitch decks are crucial tools for entrepreneurs seeking funding, as they distill complex information into a compelling and digestible format. Below, we’ll share a pitch deck template to help you get started.

In a competition setting, where time is limited, a well-structured pitch deck ensures clarity and leaves a lasting impact on judges. Judges often rely on pitch decks to evaluate the viability and potential of a business. Pitch decks serve as a storytelling tool, allowing entrepreneurs to concisely convey their business narrative, influencing judges to positively sway their decision in favor of cash prizes.

What Should I Focus On During a 5-Minute Pitch In a Competition?

In a five minute pitch, it’s important to eliminate fluff and cut to the chase. Each judge may be looking for something different, so it’s hard to make a blatant statement as to what your primary focus should be. In general, judges will evaluate a company based on the following criteria:

Problem
Solution
Market size
Validation and traction
Go-to-market plan
Investability

How to Create an Impactful Pitch Deck

Entrepreneurs gearing up for the upcoming RevRoad pitch competition need a focused and concise pitch deck to stand out to the judges. When you only have five minutes to share your pitch, it is critical to focus on the what matters most. Here’s a pitch deck template to guide you when creating a 10-12 slide deck that showcases the business you are building:

Cover Slide:
- Keep it simple with your logo and a tagline.
Introduction:
- Start with your company’s vision or mission to set the stage with your “why.”
Problem:
- Clearly outline the problem you’re solving, emphasizing its significance in the market you’re addressing.
Solution:
- Showcase your innovative solution to the problem succinctly, avoiding unnecessary details. This may be more than one slide if you have a few products you want to show.
- Don’t get too fixated on product features. Investors are going to care more about your traction (see below) than your solution. Anyone can build a product. The big question is whether or not that product actually has paying customers.
Market:
- Define the market size and your target customers. Consider using a TAM, SAM, SOM approach for a comprehensive view.
What Makes You Different:
- Show investors what sets you apart from competitors in the market. What enables you to break through the noise? Communicate your unique selling proposition, be it product features or brand differentiators.
Traction:
- This is arguably the most important section of your pitch. Dedicate a few slides to showcase your revenue, partnerships, and business model. Investors will want to know exactly how your business makes money, the current financial standing, and the growth potential.
Projections or Big Picture:
- If time permits, this is where you will dive deeper into the growth potential, presenting 3-5 year financial projections.
Team:
- Introduce your team, emphasizing their expertise and backgrounds. Investors invest in people as much as ideas.
Conclusion:
- End with a gracious thank you and provide clear contact information.

BONUS: If you are currently raising capital (outside of the competition), add a slide detailing how much money you’re seeking and what you need the money for. This slide would come after the “team” slide.

How to Present a Pitch

Crafting an effective pitch deck (using the template above) will make your presentation stronger, but only if you know the information well. Avoid reading the slides—you should know the content inside and out. Remember, less text, more impact.

Before pitching investors or competing at a pitch competition, you should practice your pitch multiples times to ensure it fits within the allotted time frame. You should also anticipate questions from the judging panel (or investors) and practice your responses to those questions. Practice leads to confidence, and confidence leads to positive impressions!

With a well-rehearsed presentation and a pitch deck that focuses on the most important aspects of your business, you’re sure to do well at your next pitch presentation!

Apply to pitch your company in the next RevRoad Entrepreneur Competition, or apply to be part of the RevRoad portfolio.