IgniteU NY hosted a Woman and Minority-Owned Business Enterprise “Startup Showcase” last Tuesday evening. The room was full of potential customers, investors, entrepreneurs and connectors, and five fledgling ventures subjected themselves to a Shark Tank-style pitch competition with a cash prize on the line. WorkSmart members were there to take it all in.
It’s amazing how a few simple words can evoke a powerful response. Piercing the nervous air with her own energy and passion, Heidi Nathanielsz took the floor for Market Pops, a producer of small-batch popsicles in fresh flavors. Heidi opened with her few simple words:
“Can the simple popsicle inspire joy?” <Pause>
She was in no hurry to continue, because we were all imagining the sensations of childhood - the melodic sounds of the ice cream truck far away; the anticipation of refreshing cold on a hot, summer day; the sweet and tangy flavors of our favorite pops.
Heidi had a lot more to say about Market Pops. It was important information about her business, but she didn’t really need it. She had the audience in her hands from those very first words. And then she told us that she’d bring a popsicle cart to us. What fun! I was already envisioning the buzz of professionals around her popsicle cart at the launch party for WorkSmart’s next space.
Market Pops made just one of five great presentations in the showcase, but it was Market Pops that took home the prize.
Heidi had us at, “Hello.”
Congratulations to all of the contestants, who put in the work as part of IgniteU NY’s WMBE Accelerator Program:
Heidi Nathanielsz - Market Pops
Julie Maleski Putzel - JMP Interiors - residential and commercial design
Sharon Lastique - Healthy in a Hurry - wellness coaching, meal prep & events
Katharine Laboda - Square One Tax Resolutions - She’s on a mission!
Kristyn Muller & Mark Mirasol - The Lazy Axe indoor axe throwing facility
WorkSmart is working hard to nurture new businesses in the Glens Falls area and looking forward to hosting amazing events. Connect with us if you’d like to participate in this kind of event or share your ideas for events you’d like to see at WorkSmart in the heart of downtown Glens Falls.