Cambridge Entrepreneur Wins $25,000 in Business Pitch Competition
Art Hub's Jacy Eckerman takes top prize for "Who Arted? Clay Project Menus," a business-to-business subscription poised to bring new revenue into Cambridge's creative economy.
CAMBRIDGE, WI – Collaborative 523 Inc., in partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), has announced Jacy Eckerman as the winner of the second cohort of its Business Pitch Competition. Eckerman, owner and founder of Art Hub, was awarded a $25,000 cash prize for her new concept, “Who Arted? Clay Project Menus.”
The winning concept is a subscription-based product that gives pottery studios, paint-your-own pottery businesses, and arts centers across the country with ready-to-use clay programming for walk-in customers. Subscribers receive seasonal clay project menus, instructional materials, video tutorials and done-for-you marketing assets.
The offering is designed to help art studios increase revenue and streamline staffing needs, while enabling customers to enjoy independent, self-guided art experiences.
“This competition exists to help new entrepreneurs and established businesses take their next big step,” said Kayla Papenfuss, Collaborative 523 Inc. board member. “‘Who Arted?’ builds on Jacy’s proven track record and will bring new revenue, jobs and opportunities into our community.”
By marketing the subscription nationally, Eckerman expects to bring outside revenue into the local economy while creating new jobs to produce its programming.
Eckerman’s ties to the local community run deeper than Art Hub. She is also the founder of Art on Main, an annual weekend-long art festival held in downtown Cambridge, an event supported in part by Collaborative 523 Inc.
The Business Pitch Competition is one component of Collaborative 523 Inc.’s Grow Cambridge initiative, made possible through a $182,000 grant from the WEDC. The competition supports entrepreneurs developing and expanding their business concepts that strengthen the local economy. The final cohort of the competition will begin this fall.
The Village of Cambridge is also a member of WEDC’s Connect Communities program, which supports downtown revitalization efforts statewide.
Collaborative 523 Inc. will assist the remaining competition participants in bringing their business concepts to Cambridge.
About Collaborative 523 Inc.:
Collaborative 523 Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting community and economic development in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Learn more at www.collaborative523.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cathy Yerges, Executive Director
collaborative523@gmail.com