Events
Entrepreneurs Shine at Business Pitch Competition
Raleigh, N.C. (March 12, 2026) – Wake Tech celebrated local innovation and entrepreneurship Thursday as finalists competed in the college's Blueprint to Skyline Business Pitch Competition, held at the Western Wake Campus.
The event brought together a dynamic group of budding entrepreneurs representing clients of Wake Tech's Entrepreneurship & Small Business Center, graduates of LaunchWakeCounty and Wake Tech students, each presenting their ventures for a chance to earn funding and expert recognition.
The competition was sponsored by Wells Fargo and reflects the college's ongoing commitment to supporting small-business development and fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wake County.
The competition featured three categories supporting business owners at various stages of growth. Five finalists competed in each category, with three winners selected per track, each receiving funds to invest directly into their businesses.
Winners
- Skyline Category – businesses operating for more than two years ($7,500 each)
- Toni-Anne Ramirez, Touch As Tonic – a wellness retreat business focused on women (LaunchWendell)
- Kyle Bray, Lifted Lou's – an auto repair shop specializing in aftermarket parts for Jeeps and other trucks (Wake Tech graduate)
- Riley Phillips, Finders Keepers – a vintage clothing popup and online retailer (LaunchCary)
- Structure Category – businesses operating for fewer than two years ($5,000 each)
- Christina Holston and India Williams, IWILLJOY LLC – inclusive roller‑skating programs (LaunchGarner)
- Breanna Ford, ProteoMosaic – a startup working to transform prescription drug discovery (SCORE Raleigh volunteer business mentors)
- Ricardo Hernandez, Rooted‑in‑Tech – producer of high‑quality young plants grown entirely indoors (LaunchApex)
- Blueprint Category – early stage or idea stage ventures ($3,000 each)
- Lisa Jeffries Nobling, The Borrow Bar – a membership‑based lending library for high‑quality household items (LaunchGarner)
- Taylor Mercier Lynch, Iris Book Trading Co. – a mobile bookstore offering affordable options and fostering local reading culture (LaunchFuquay-Varina)
- Evangeline Kelly, The Minivan's Crafty Studio – a creator of custom magnets (Wake Tech Entrepreneurship & Small Business Center)
Participants were required to attend at least one preparatory webinar leading up to the competition. These sessions helped entrepreneurs refine their concepts, strengthen their revenue models and develop compelling pitches for the judging panel.
"We believe in nurturing the entrepreneurs who will fuel the next generation of local business growth," said Dr. Jenipher Cornelius, associate dean of Business and Entrepreneurship at Wake Tech. "Supporting these rising entrepreneurs is vital, because their success directly contributes to a thriving and innovative local business landscape."
LaunchWakeCounty played a pivotal role in this year's finalist pool. The program aims to support and develop entrepreneurs and small businesses through partnerships between Wake Tech and municipalities across the county.
The college's Entrepreneurship & Small Business Center also continues to be a cornerstone of local business development, providing free support to any resident or small business in Wake County. Services range from one-on-one counseling to workshops that guide entrepreneurs through starting, stabilizing and scaling their ventures.
Long-time Wake Tech benefactor Mike Conlon served as one of the judges for the competition. Wake Tech's planned Conlon Western Wake Campus will be named in his honor and will replace the college's current leased facility on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary.
