Four businesses participate in 2019 Pitch-Off

From left are Shasta Scott, Community National Bank & Trust; Ryan Austin, First National Bank of OK; Jason Junkens, Pitch-Off Winner; David Thomison, MBA Spears School of Entrepreneurship Endowed Chair; Jason Johnson, RCB Bank Vice President Lending; and Jodi Cline, Financial Adviser Edward Jones.

Four companies participated in the third annual Ponca City Business Plan Competition & Pitch-Off sponsored by Ponca City Development Authority and Pioneer Technology Center held Monday at the newly renovated City Central building at 400 East Central.

The Pitch-Off was the start of the Small Business Programs set to usher in Small Business Week, May 6-10.

Businesses interested in participating were asked to submit a concise business plan for critique and scoring, prepare a five-minute pitch for judges and be ready to answer up to 10 minutes of questions from the judges about any aspect of their pitch or business plan.

The winner of this year’s Business Plan Competition and Pitch-off is Titan Preparedness, LLC, with its emergency recovery planning, training and on-site programs.

“This business plan competition/pitch-off is a great opportunity for businesses to present their business plan to experienced judges for feedback, as well as pitching their products in a shark-tank environment for access to incentives designed to keep these businesses in Ponca City,”  said Ben Evans,  Pioneer Technology Center Business & Industry Entrepreneurial Services Coordinator.  “Pioneer Tech is pleased to work with PCDA to offer this type of competition and review of new companies’ business plans and pitches.”

Titan Preparedness, LLC, will receive more than $5,000 in incentives.  These incentives include $2,000 to the business, a year-long Ponca City Chamber membership, one year’s rent in the current Small Business Incubator at Pioneer Technology Center, and assistance with marketing, advertising and equipment funding.

Jason Junkens, Emergency Management Professional and owner of Titan Preparedness, LLC, was a bit stunned when he was announced as the high score for the Pitch-Off.  Junkens is currently officed in the Small Business Incubator at Pioneer Technology Center and has been working closely with Dawn Brakey, Certified Contracting Assistance Specialist to bid and win government contracts in his area of expertise.

“Titan Preparedness plans to hire two to four employees over the next three years to reach more companies to assist and train on emergency recovery plans both in written plans and staff training,” Junkens said.

Judges reviewed business plans, listened to the four business pitches and selected Titan Preparedness as the high scorer and winner of the Pitch-Off for 2019.

The five judges were Jason Johnson, RCB Bank Vice President Lending; Ryan Austin, First National Bank of Oklahoma President; Jodi Cline, Financial Adviser at Edward Jones; David Thomison, MBA OSU School of Entrepreneurship Endowed Chair and Shasta Scott, Community National Bank & Trust.

The other three businesses participating in the competition were Gamemaster’s Guild, The Grand Cigar & Lounge and Troys Tacos.  Gamemaster’s Guild and The Grand Cigar & Lounge will be opening their locations late in the spring in downtown Ponca City and Troy’s Tacos is still in the development stage.

GameMaster’s Guild has a storefront and table-top game area at 109 North First Street and Grand Cigar & Lounge is nearing completion of its building renovation at 217 South Second Street.

For more information about business planning, visit www.goponca.com or contact Kat Long at [email protected] or (580) 765-7070.

For more information on the Pioneer Technology Center Business Services programs, contact Ben Evans at (580) 718-4262.