Small businesses compete for investors - YNN - Your News Now

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Small business and nonprofit owners gave their best pitches Thursday night.

RISE Global hosted a social innovation fast pitch. The competition was comprised of 13 Austin-based small business and nonprofit owners. Each had one minute to convince a panel of judges they deserve funding.

"I think what really helps is the exposure to our live audiences of business leaders and community supporters, so you have a chance as a nonprofit or for profit enterprise to meet those community leaders," RISE Global spokesperson Claire England said.

England said the 13 businesses were picked because they?re doing something to help make the world a better place.

Brio Yiapan owns Baby Bush Beer. During her pitch, Yiapan told the judges her company helps turn booze into water. Her company sells microbrews and donates the proceeds to build wells in Kenya.

"I think if you want to do it, you can find a way to do it and you just need to make that list of barriers as small as you can and pull people on board who can help you overcome the challenges,? Yiapan said.

For many, it was a challenge, compressing years of work into 60 seconds, but those who did it most effectively won cash.

"Yeah, this is an awesome opportunity. We are so excited to be here, even the experience of getting up on stage and pitching in 60 seconds. Getting that pitch down to 60 seconds was really difficult, but it was a great challenge. We're firm believers to do something that were scared of every day and this definitely fits the bill," Revolution Apparel Owner Shannon Whitehead said.

The main attraction of their company is one garment that can be worn 15-different ways, made of recycled fabric.

The winner of the 2012 RISE Social Innovation award was Zephaniah Community Development Corporation's Texas Pie Kitchen. The company sells pies made by students and low-income adults with barriers. The nonprofit that runs the company helps teach job training skills through small business development and mentoring programs. They won $1,000 in cash. They also won gifts from consulting to branding totaling about $7,500.

The audience favorite was the nonprofit Wonders & Worries. The group helps children cope when a parent faces a serious or life-threatening Illness. They took home prizes.

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