The Big Pitch Names the Best Food Entrepreneurs in Columbus At Its Finale Event June 28

COLUMBUS, Ohio - June 26, 2014 - PRLog -- Today, FoodStart (http://www.foodstartohio.org/) announced that the finale of the The Big Pitch, central Ohio’s most innovative culinary contest, will name the best food entrepreneurs in Columbus this Sat., June 28. Sponsored by the Women’s Small Business Accelerator and Franklin University, the event will choose winners in three categories: restaurants, mobile food (including trucks, carts and catering) and food products.

This Saturday, the finalists in each category will compete for the title by making their “Big Pitch,” judged by a panel of local industry experts. The event concludes with a Pitch Party featuring Donatos Pizza and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. The winner will receive $,1000 and a year of mentoring by industry experts; the runner-up will receive $500 and six months of mentoring; and the second runner-up will be awarded six months of mentoring.

Ticket fees help pay for the cash prizes. To buy tickets to the event or contribute any amount, visit http://www.foodstartohio.org/ which will take you to The Big Pitch U-Wish page. U-Wish is a local crowdfunding tool who’s partnering with FoodStart Ohio for the event.

“We hope everyone will support central Ohio’s food entrepreneurs by contributing to The Big Pitch,” said Bob Leighty, founder of FoodStart Ohio. “FoodStart is all about nurturing the best in local culinary talent. Our ticket sales and any other money raised go toward funding prize money and providing mentoring to our winning entrepreneurs.”

The nine finalists are:

Mobile:

•          Kinetic Co

•          Willowbeez Soulveg

•          Sophie's Gourmet Pierogi

Restaurant/Catering:

•          Cool Cakes by Kate LLC

•          Here to Disrupt

•          Modern Southern Table

Food Products:

•          The Glass Rooster Cannery

•          HouseMade Sriracha

•          Charley's Buckeye Cooking Sauce

The panel of judges includes food industry experts such as: Troy Miller, Columbus City Council President Pro Tempore; Bry Rinaldi, director of operations for the Columbus Food League; Graydon Webb, nationally known food and real estate entrepreneur; and Rick Harrison Wolfe, executive direction of the North Market.

To learn more about The Big Pitch, visit http://www.foodstartohio.org/. Partners for the Big Pitch include the following supporters of local food entrepreneurs: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Eat Well Distribution, the North Market, Columbus Food League, Crest Gastropub, Explorers Club, Local Matters, Columbus Underground, The Metropreneur, Donatos, Randy Sokol & Associates, The Hills Markets, ECDI’s Food Fort and Small Business Beanstalk.

About FoodStart Ohio

FoodStart Ohio is a nonprofit organization that supports Ohio food entrepreneurs, using food as an economic development tool to boost the local food infrastructure and to spur improvements in neighborhood workforce development, entrepreneurism, and urban and rural renewal. We all eat -- let's use food to revitalize our communities and make our world more sustainable. Visit us at http://www.foodstartohio.org/.