March 20, 2025
Every great business starts with an idea, and the Get Started: Business Idea Challenge is helping turn it into reality. Here’s a list of the March awardees who secured up to $500 in non-equity funding.
InventorSpeak is a coaching program that teaches technical professionals, engineers, inventors, and startup founders to communicate complex ideas effectively to drive business success. Through its 8-week coaching program, InventorSpeak enhances collaboration, reduces inefficiencies, and ensures critical information is shared clearly across departments.
La Luz Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing services to communities in need. It offers emergency assistance, temporary emergency shelter, help with job and housing searches, health and food resources, advocacy, clothing, and after-school aid. The foundation’s goal is to empower individuals and families to become self-sufficient and thrive.
Lever AI provides a digital blueprint for businesses by integrating data from multiple sources — such as spreadsheets, QuickBooks, Shopify, and CRMs — into a unified model. Its platform allows businesses to query their data using natural language, helping them understand connections between customers, products, and transactions.
Mark Zero/Trigger Hog is creating a strength-activated, quick-release trigger block for guns that strives to prevent accidents, avoid child access, and ultimately save lives. The design is based on low-tech mechanics to ensure wide usability and bypass the reluctance towards standard traditional locks.
MoonButter Co crafts unique nut butters using the finest ingredients. Its innovative flavor combinations, such as its Cashew Coconut Chia Nut Butter, leave customers amazed by the exceptional taste nature has to offer. What began as freshly ground nuts, honey, and dried fruit has become a line of unique products.
Rocky Mtn Brine strives to provide a better way to prevent and remove snow and ice through an eco-friendly alternative that is 50% more effective than typical dry salting. It also plans to offer sprayer skids for trucks and utility task vehicles to apply its custom mix.
Red Rock Chocolate crafts specialty chocolate bars that showcase the unique and nuanced flavors of cocoa beans from around the world. By educating the public, it helps people discover chocolate’s rich complexity, offering a refined tasting experience.
Defiant Fungi empowers communities with local, sustainable mushrooms. By offering DIY kits, cultures, dried goods, and supplements, it strives to answer broken food chains while also cultivating community. Every purchase supports veteran programs as a means of giving back.
ToneTip is a software-as-a-service (SAAS) that developed a patented audio QR code technology that allows microphones to detect audio codes. It can be used with any media that supports audio, including radio, TV, stadiums, convention centers, and PowerPoint, creating instant connections between creators and audiences.
Thank you to these awardees for being part of Utah’s vibrant startup community. For a chance to participate in the Get Started: Business Idea Challenge and win funding, learn more about the program and how to apply.
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.