The Scott County FAST TRACK Challenge, which received the Economic Development Association of MN’s 2017 Program of the Year, is now planning for the 2018 FAST-TRACK Challenge. Scott County businesses have an opportunity to be a part of this award-winning event and assist an entrepreneur in fast tracking their business to success. Sponsors may provide start-up cash, legal and accounting services, graphic design and web development services or other professional services that would be beneficial to a start-up business.
The Scott County First Stop Shop and Technology Village, Prior Lake hosted the inaugural FAST-TRACK Business Challenge in October 2017. The event drew applicants from across Scott County, with four finalists pitching their business ideas at a live event. Among the finalists were CatboxPro (Prior Lake), SafeCup (Shakopee), ZIET LLC (Savage-2nd Place) and Ion Concert Media (Belle Plaine-1st Place).
Gold sponsors of the 2018 event will have the opportunity to serve on the judging panel. In 2017, judges included Lisa Bradley, Co-founder of R. Riveter and Shark Tank participant; State Representative and New Market Bank CEO, Bob Vogel; Prior Lake Mayor Kirt Briggs; CEO/President of State Bank of Belle Plaine, Paul Gatz; and VP of Corporate Development at Equus Holdings, Charles Shannon.
Professional service providers and sponsors will be invited to the live event and provided a chance to showcase their companies, as well as play a hand in helping the selected winner(s) achieve success. Sponsorship provides local businesses with an opportunity to give back to the greater Scott County community and support economic development and entrepreneurship in the area.
For more information on the FAST-TRACK Challenge, including links to the 2017 FAST-TRACK Business Challenge video, please visit the website at: www.scottfss.org/FAST-TRACK, or contact Jo Foust, Business Development Specialist with Scott County First Stop Shop at: 952-496-8830 or [email protected].
