Are you ready for the big reveal? We’re proud to introduce you to our finalists for the 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition, presented by Community Trust Bancorp. These innovative entrepreneurs will be showcasing their talents on April 11 at the Ashland Train Depot, and we can’t wait for you to witness their exceptional pitches. Registration is officially open — secure your spot today and get ready to watch innovation shine!
The stakes are high with a grand prize of $10,000, and a whopping $20,000 in cash prizes up for grabs. Each finalist is guaranteed a minimum of $500, making this competition a rewarding experience for all participants.
Meet the Finalists
Cynthia Main | Sunhouse Craft | Berea
Sunhouse Craft is a sustainable small-batch artisan manufacturing business with a focus on traditional craft. Using traditional techniques, we hand-make brooms, wooden wares, and other home goods in our storefront studio located in Berea, Kentucky. By sourcing our materials directly from our region and funding farmers to help us raise crops, we’re helping to regenerate a thriving, local economy and working towards a craft with a strong sense of place. Crafting with pride work that brings back a sense of beauty in the everyday.
Cynthia Main is an experienced fabricator and passionate entrepreneur, who believes business can be used as a tool for positive change. She previously started and ran a multi-platform furniture line, workshops, and job-training program for the Chicago non-profit Rebuilding Exchange. There,she conceived and built out the program from the beginning to a quarter million dollar gross in less than three years. This funded the program from its revenue and utilized emerging digital platforms to establish the brand. She has worked for over a decade in various collaborative design and fabrication scenarios and has been a respected fabricator with an emphasis on sustainability on a national level.
Coming to the front with Sunhouse Craft, the many connections of makers, and designers serve her well, connecting the Berea-based business to a national platform. Cynthia has also been active for the past several years, building the beginnings of this brand; receiving national press including Southern Living, Architectural Digest, Garden and Gun, Fast Company, and Country Living as well as many digital platforms, and invitations to show at exclusive events. When she is not working, she is involved in supporting her local community or spending time exploring the outdoors.
Learn more about the business here.
Joana Amorim and Michael Beck | Sylvatica Forest Farm | Mt Vernon
Sylvatica Forest Farm, founded, owned, and run by Joana Amorim and Michael Beck in 2021, is a hub to educate the local and regional community on the importance of forest farming, herbalism, and land stewardship within a long-term conservation mindset. Located in Rockcastle County, Joana and Michael operate a 50-member Herbal CSA, a small-scale fruit/nut/natives tree nursery, a mushroom farm, and an Apothecary. Joana and Michael have 10+ years of experience in permaculture, regenerative farming, natural building, and ecological landscape design.
Learn more about the business here.
Aaron Floyd | DAAD Distilling | Lancaster
DAAD Distilling Company LLC, established in April of 2023, is a black-owned distillery of premium high-corn bourbon, that will provide visitors with an immersive and unique site-touring experience in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Our beautiful site will feature a botanical garden and arboretum, a freshwater aquarium, lodging, shops, food establishments, and more. The DAAD collection will feature a signature, handcrafted birthday bourbon with buttery-tasting notes and a gentle savory finish. It’s more than just bourbon! We aspire to inspire others through the service we commit ourselves to within the communities and to the families of Kentucky. The DAAD mission is to improve ecosystem biodiversity, wildlife conservation, city services, infrastructure, and economic development and stability. DAAD Distilling Company has a vision to be nationally and internationally recognized as a great contributor to the bourbon industry and the state of Kentucky.
Owner Aaron Floyd plays a crucial role in countless facets of the company: from overseeing the complete operations of DAAD Distilling Company to expanding the media footprint. A Lean Six Sigma expert who loves the challenge of optimizing traditional distillation methods, Aaron was blessed to be mentored by some excellent leaders in the bourbon-whiskey industry over the course of 10 years. A loving “DAAD” of a soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter, Aaron enjoys going on journeys, playing with his 5-year-old huskador, and exploring new cuisine dishes. Through due diligence, Aaron is currently focusing on continuing the growth and development of the company by building DAAD’s brand awareness.
Two dads are doing bourbon the DAAD way.
Learn more about the business here.
Eric Sparks | Complet3D | Corbin
At Complet3D we help professionals leverage additive manufacturing to be more effective at their craft. We give strategic advice, sell machines, and maintain the 3D printers – just like the Xerox copier model. The technology is still new so we help our customers get started and maintain their successes. Professionals can save money, time, and in some cases – lives using additive manufacturing.
As a Manchester native and an additive manufacturing engineer, Eric has a vision of Kentucky as an advanced manufacturing hub. A former coal miner, he knows the transition to technology is not always easy or straightforward. With a focus on leveraging 3D printing technology, Eric helps professionals succeed in the additive manufacturing world and wants to bring as many high-paying jobs to Eastern Kentucky as possible.
Learn more about the business here.
Stephen and Maggie Prosser | Hazard Coffee Company | Hazard
Hazard Coffee Company is a specialty coffee shop and roastery located in Hazard, KY. Focusing on a data-driven approach to coffee brewing and roasting, Hazard Coffee Company utilizes state-of-the-art espresso machines and coffee roasters to provide the highest quality coffee on the market. Hazard Coffee Company pairs its love of coffee with its dedication to the community, creating a welcoming space that Hazard and the 606 region can be proud of.
Stephen and Maggie Prosser opened Hazard Coffee Company in May 2021. Since opening, they have experienced rapid growth, allowing them to expand their location and begin roasting in-house. None of this would be possible without strong community support. Stephen holds a B.S. in Geology from the University of Wyoming and a M.S. in Geology from the University of Kentucky. Maggie holds a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Centre College and an M.Ed. in Primary Education from the University of North Texas. They are grateful and excited for the opportunity to help grow a city they love so much.
Learn more about the business here.
Corey Shepherd, Abby Daniel, Claire Holbrook, and Rylyn Rayburn | Insight Emergency Solutions | Olive Hill
We, at Insight Emergency Solutions, are a newly formed LLC dedicated to saving lives by the second. Helping to expedite the planning phase, we provide unprecedented 3D virtual structural models to first responders during emergencies. Our program offers a more intelligent deployment of manpower when times are at their most critical.
The leadership team at Insight Emergency Solutions is comprised of four members. Corey Shepherd has nearly two decades of business experience in multiple industries, serving in multiple capacities, and 10 years of military experience with the U.S. Navy. Abby Daniel, Claire Holbrook, and Rylyn Rayburn are students at West Carter High School and leaders of their peer group in many capacities as well. Together, we share a mission to reduce emergency incident response times across the nation; starting with our schools.
How the Finalists Got Here
We received a record 46 applications from 27 of Kentucky’s 54 Appalachian counties. All applicants will receive specialized services provided by our Business and Innovation team.
This includes:
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Direct Services such as:
- Business Ideation
- Financial Forecasting
- Google Verification
- Website Fundamentals
- Digital Media and Marketing
- Referrals to Technical Assistance Providers and their subject-matter experts
SOAR Innovation is powered by KY Innovation.
Meet Past Winners
2023 | TJ Rayhill | Bluegrass Crickets
Last year, TJ Rayhill, creator and owner of Bluegrass Crickets took home a $10,000 grand prize.
TJ is passionate about going against the crowd. Opening a bookstore at 19 years old and launching a food truck, a gift shop, and a restaurant has led down a path to launching Bluegrass Crickets, Kentucky’s First Commercial Cricket Farm.
Bluegrass Crickets raises organic crickets for the bait and feed industry and looks soon to produce crickets for human consumption.
You can watch the entire 2023 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition HERE.
2022 | Dakota Hoskins | Safari Solutions
In 2022, Dakota Hoskins, creator and owner of Safari Solutions took home a $10,000 grand prize. As a car wash technology startup, Hoskins developed a unique and affordable barcode system for operators to implement to increase profits and marketing reach. Since the pitch, Dakota has participated in the AWESOME Inc 5 Across Pitch Competition and represented Eastern Kentucky at the Small Towns, Big Ideas Virtual Pitch Competition presented by CORI.
You can watch the entire 2022 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition HERE.
2021 | Billy Brown | Walleye Solutions
Our Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition winner for 2021 was Walleye Solutions. This Lincoln County startup provides aesthetically pleasing cable pass-through wall ports that allow cords, cables, and plugs to pass freely through a wall. Owner, Billy Brown, was able to invest his winnings into equipment needed for the in-house manufacturing of his product, which helped lower his overall product cost. Their standard products can be found on their website, Walmart, and Amazon.
You can watch the entire 2021 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition HERE.
2020 | Chelsey Mayse | Tipper Valley Farms
Our 2020 winner was Tipper Valley Farms. The Rowan County Appalachian Proud farm produces all-natural products with their free-range goat’s milk. They combine this with selected oils and formulations with sensitive skin in mind and contain no unnecessary, harmful, or harsh chemicals, additives, preservatives, or dyes. Check out their online store HERE.
2019 | Robin Mason | Tree of the Field
In 2019, Tree of the Field claimed first place in our first-ever Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition. The Madison County-based agri-tech business continues to grow, recently launching a bourbon-scented Skeeterlog. You don’t have to look far to find their Skeeterlog and handmade chimineas. If you do, no worries. They have an online store.
A Note from Director of Business and Innovation, Sabrina McWhorter
We are thrilled to welcome this year’s finalists to the fold. Each year I am blown away by the quality of applicants and this year is no different. This group will work along side our business and Innovation team to prepare for the big night where they will compete for the grand prize of $10,000. The fun is just beginning so stay tuned for more to come.
Want to Start a Business or Grow Your Existing Business
There’s no need to wait until next year’s pitch competition. Our Business and Innovation Team, powered by KY Innovation, works every day helping people turn their dreams into a reality.
Here’s how you can get started.
- Download our Complete Guide to Entrepreneurship for Eastern Kentucky.
- From there, we’ll schedule a time to discuss your idea and business.
- We’ll work with you on identifying the next steps and support you along the way.
All of our services are FREE thanks to the support of KY Innovation and SOAR’s network of corporate partners.
For More Information
Register today to secure your spot!
Have questions? Contact Sabrina McWhorter, Director of Business and Innovation, at sabrina@soar-ky.org.
SOAR Innovation is powered by KY Innovation.