February 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 February awardees who secured up to $500 in non-equity funding.
The Local Bait Box is a one-stop online shop for baits, lures, jigs, and more crafted by local makers who fish Utah’s waters. It brings together the best locally made fishing gear to support small businesses with baits designed by anglers who know what works.
Squirt the Clown is an interactive game where players take turns as the Clown, Squirter, and Judge. It combines water, balloons, and chaos for unforgettable fun, bringing more laughter to family game nights.
OgdenXR develops innovative Extended Reality (XR) technologies to enhance industrial training through visualization and data-driven decision-making. It operates nationally and internationally, helping mining, construction, and industrial companies showcase complex equipment and enable remote collaboration.
Hearthlight is a financial education company that bridges the gap between professional advisors and high earners. Powered by its proprietary AI chatbot, it analyzes financial information and delivers clear, actionable recommendations to optimize wealth management, investments, and financial planning.
Kiddie Klosets is an online and in-person clothing swap company making children’s clothing more affordable and accessible to families. By creating a seamless platform for parents to swap and donate gently used clothing, Kiddie Klosets reduces waste, builds community, and saves money.
Benchmark Body Metrics provides comprehensive body composition metrics using DEXA scans, VO2 and metabolic analyzers, blood panels, and in-person strength and mobility benchmark tests to measure performance, help optimize training, and ultimately help people achieve their goals.
That’s Sew Haute is a one-of-a-kind custom embroidery experience that merges art, fashion, and technology to combat waste. Offering tools and inspiration for creative customization empowers customers to personalize clothing, giving them new life and keeping textiles out of landfills.
Fanbase.fm is a rewards network artists can use to drive revenue-generating behaviors among fans and connect with new ones. Fans accumulate points by checking in at shows, buying merch, and participating in other valuable behaviors, allowing artists to reward loyal supporters.
ServiceGo is an app that gamifies community service by rewarding volunteers with points. These points can be redeemed at participating local companies that have donated awards such as pizza, haircuts, or half-off tickets to various events.
Pilot Winners
During the January Get Started pilot event, two entrepreneurs were awarded. They share a common goal of promoting wellness through physical health or community openness.
912goodies provides healthier treats to anyone with a sweet tooth. Inspired and supported by family to turn her personal hobby into a business, founder Jasmine Owen plans to invest the awarded funding into baking equipment, ultimately reducing costs and increasing product affordability.
The Common Cultures Podcast draws upon shared experiences between cultures to highlight basic needs worldwide. The host, Simon Eisenbach, aims to bridge the gap between people from various walks of life to create a deeper sense of understanding and community, spanning religious beliefs, hobbies, and personal desires. Visit the Startup State Initiative to apply for the next round of the Get Started: Business Idea Challenge.
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.