BIG INK won the Granite State Growth Competition and $25,000 grand prize at the Regional Economic Development Center’s 25th anniversary celebration yesterday. Delivering its final business pitch in front of a packed crowd, BIG INK beat out four other finalists in the statewide competition sponsored by REDC.
BIG INK's mission is to expand the practice of woodblock printing to both hobbyists and professional artists. BIG INK establishes a temporary print shop on site at partnership organizations, most often at museums, universities, art centers, studios, and galleries. Artists are selected to attend these events and print original woodblocks at least 24” x 36” in dimension. https://www.bigink.org/
“I cannot thank REDC enough for creating this opportunity and providing the structure for businesses to participate in this competition. As a for-profit arts business, there’s not a lot of opportunities like this,” said Castonguay, BIG INK’s director.
The Granite State Growth Competition started with more than 30 applicants. After participating in several rounds of pitching and narrowing down the number of competitors, a panel of judges selected five finalists, including BIG INK, Cyborg, NH Tap, TrueProp Software and YouScheduler, to compete in Thursday’s event.
“The Granite State Growth Competition showcased the entrepreneurial spirt and innovation that’s thriving around the state,” said Laurel Adams, President of REDC. “Each of our finalists gained valuable expertise through this process - whether they walked away with the grand prize, honed their business plans, or were introduced to our partners and supporters who can continue to help them grow their businesses.”
BIG INK's Carand Burnet and Lyell Castonguay presenting their pitch.
BIG INK's Carand Burnet and Lyell Castonguay receiving their $25,000 check.