Kirkland Workshop and Pitch Competition

Workshop-and-Pitch-Rules-2025.pdf(PDF, 216KB)

To Be Announced

People's Choice $5,000

Start-Up Business $5,000

Expansion Business $5,000

Speaker: Shawn Palmer, OneEastside

Specific topics will include basic legalities such as organization, licensing, and taxes; an assessment of skillset, risk, and needed resources; and an overview of the competition, including requirements, schedule, learning deliverables, and prizes.

Speaker: Jim Lopez, Deputy City Manager, City of Kirkland

Emphasized will be the identification of customer segments and competition, branding, revenue forecasting, and sustainable profitability.

Speaker: Bea Nahon, CPA

The reporting requirements, risks, and common missteps of the small business owner will be reviewed so that attendees learn the value of recordkeeping and accurate financial statements. In addition, attendees will learn how to calculate, plan for, and communicate initial and ongoing capital funding needs to afford them their greatest opportunity for successful launch and growth.

Speaker: Jonathan Blanco, Startup425

Entrepreneurs are the consummate do-it-yourselfers: focused, ambitious, and resolute. Yet a common challenge remains the “sell” the effective influence of a target audience toward a desired outcome. Branding strategies, sales techniques, and presentation how-tos will all be covered.

Speaker: Heather Knox

Need assistance with your pitch? In-person coaching sessions will be available to contestants to help refine their presentation for the live pitch in front of the panel of judges.

Business Owner: Jazmin Colmenares

Business Description: A company dedicated to the design, weaving and sale of clothing inspired by the crochet style.

Business Owners: Judy Nguyen and Dylan Meade

Business Description: Homebodiy is a digital toolbox for homeowners. Our mission is to give every homeowner the confidence, skills, and support they need to turn their house into a home. With our digital toolbox, you get organized project planning, 1-on-1 chats with trade experts for guidance on your DIY projects, a personalized maintenance checklist, DIY guides, and more. We help you learn and stay on track so that you can turn your ideas into reality and build sweat equity in your home.

Business Owner: Dina Elabd

Business Description: Founded in California in 2018, Arabic Book A Month is made up of a team of book lovers and authors who are dedicated to providing you with the very best Arabic children's books every month. We believe that providing children with a quality education is the best gift we can give them. Our customers value the time spent reading with their little ones, sparking discussion and connection. Their family is their highest priority. Caring for their child is not circumstantial; it is routine.

Business Owner: Pierre Albi

Business Description: PALBI Studios is the maker of a novel speech therapy device intended to reduce stuttering. It is a massager for the sternum which is non-invasive and easy to use.

Business Owners: Kiira Portet and Jess Kubat

Business Description: Tandem LLC has a collective experience of over 17 years within the outdoor industry, we offer a bespoke experience tailored for both enterprises and entrepreneurs. Our professional journey includes collaborations with industry leaders such as REI, Arc’teryx, Stanley, Cascade Designs Inc., SOG Knives and Pallet Shelter.

At the core of Tandem's success is a cohesive team with diverse skills spanning sales, marketing, project management, and event services. What sets Tandem apart is our holistic approach, providing a comprehensive suite of services that goes beyond conventional offerings where strategic prowess meets seamless execution.

Business Name: Larissa Chuprina

Business Description: ESL and Culture Coach, LLC, is developing a customized program English for Success to help English learners understand cultural nuances of communication at work, so they can be better engaged in the process, teamwork, and be heard and valued for their talent and insights.

Business Owner: Joseph Casebeer

Business Description: Terrestrious is building a mobile game, where the player can only level up and progress by making doing sustainable things in real life. We believe that by combining gaming and gamification we can create an environment where anyone can feel like the hero in the fight against climate change.

Business Owner: Jay Romano

Business Description: Selah Nails provides consistent, top-notch nail care for busy women seeking reliable, high-quality service. 

Business Owners: Judy Nguyen and Dylan Meade

Business Description: Homebodiy is a digital toolbox for homeowners. Our mission is to give every homeowner the confidence, skills, and support they need to turn their house into a home. With our digital toolbox, you get organized project planning, 1-on-1 chats with trade experts for guidance on your DIY projects, a personalized maintenance checklist, DIY guides, and more. We help you learn and stay on track so that you can turn your ideas into reality and build sweat equity in your home.

Business Owner: Marie Capogna

Business Description: MMR's purpose is to illuminate a couple’s path to prosperity.

MMR is a series of  5 two-hour educational workshops - a package that includes the Workbook.

Two important definitions here are:

• Marriage is a metaphor for any couple sharing finances

• Roses is a metaphor for shared dreams; a new home, a boat, paying off debt, or planting a rose garden.

Business Owner: Malia McCabe

Business Description: A small wine bar and bistro, serving small plates, appetizers, soups, salads & sandwiches to the Houghton neighborhood.

Business Owner: Nancy Porto

Business Description: A small pet care business startup serving Eastside residents, expanding into small business software for service-based industries.

Business Owner: Jazmin Colmenares

Business Description: A company dedicated to the design, weaving and sale of clothing inspired by the crochet style.

Business Name: Anthony Body

Business Description: Simplifying sports management for all by providing a comprehensive platform that enhances player experiences, streamlines event organization, and fosters community engagement.

Business Owner: Suleiny Altamivano

Business Description: Tizana Mexicana is a business dedicated to bridging cultures and preserving traditions through the lens of Mexican artistry.

Business Owner: Samuel Rodriguez

Business Description: BizDiversity mission is to serve as a hub for collaboration, education, promotion in support of community-based initiatives and support services that increases organizational awareness around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives and readies their acceptance of corporate cultural changes to come.

Business Owner: Kalyani Avrapally

Business Description: Steamoji, a STEM Maker Academy for kids. In today's age of technological revolution, where the future of work is uncertain and the demand for STEM skills is on the rise, we recognize the need for innovative educational programs that prepare students for the challenges ahead.

Business Owner: Jourdan Matthews

Business Description: Winvest is a hedge fund asset management business.

Business Owner: Yavnika Khanna

Business Description: Impactika Consulting serves founders who are changing the world for good. We focus on sustainability- oriented startups and global non-profits. We work with their team as a Chief Marketing Officer to amplify their impact.

Business Owner: Dina Elabd

Business Description: Founded in California in 2018, Arabic Book A Month is made up of a team of book lovers and authors who are dedicated to providing you with the very best Arabic children's books every month. We believe that providing children with a quality education is the best gift we can give them. Our customers value the time spent reading with their little ones, sparking discussion and connection. Their family is their highest priority. Caring for their child is not circumstantial; it is routine.

Business Owner: Felix Bertram

Business Description: TuringTrader is the no-nonsense way to create diversified DIY investment portfolios. Take control of your financial future with portfolios, methodologies, and algorithms designed to generate steady returns while minimizing losses over the long term.

Business Owner: Julie Sloan

Business Description: I started as a small business focused on supporting women by buying small batch handcrafted jewelry from women makers. I wanted to put a bit of sparkle back into the world after a hard time, and lift other women in the process.