WINNERS! 12th Annual Pitch Slam & Autumn Awards

Tuesday, Aug 16, 2016
12th Annual Pitch Slam Autumn awards
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Our biggest event of the year!

Thank you for a great event!


1:00 – 4:00 PM – Pitch Slam Preliminaries

Free and Open to the Public
The day begins when 25 entrepreneurs pitch their young company to a panel of recognized experts. It’s inspiring and unpredictable. But the goal is the same: get to the finals!

5:00 – 7:00 PM – Reception

Paid registration required
Join 600 industry professionals as you enjoy cocktails, an organic and natural buffet, and the most valuable networking you may ever experience!

7:00 – 9:00PM – Pitch Slam Finals & Autumn Awards

Paid registration required
The evening continues with the exciting 2016 Pitch Slam Finals, the presentation of two business awards, and maybe a few surprises.

Because this event will be sold out, refund requests can be honored only until Oct 20th.


Breakout Brand of 2016 Award! Lucky’s Market
Industry Leader / Community Champ Award! Jane Miller

Pitch Slam Winners!

1st Place! Frau Fowler
2nd Place! SaltiSweet Ice Cream Factory
3rd Place! Evo Hemp

Runner Up Beyond Broth
Runner Up Bubba’s Foods

Pitch Slam Preliminaries

1:00 – 4:00 PM – Free and open to the public.

The 2016 naturally Boulder Pitch Slammers!

Pitch Slam Preliminaries Schedule:

1:30 Shine Potions
1:40 Let Thy Food
1:45 SaltiSweet Ice Cream Factory
1:50 FROST’D
1:55 Honey Bunchies
2:00 Beyond Broth
2:05 The Honest Stand
2:10 Rooster & Lark
2:15 Bubba’s Foods
2:25 Kulture Superfoods
2:30 LoveTheWild
2:35 Mulay’s Sausage
2:40 Paleo Meals To Go
2:45 Boulder Cookie
2:50 Binnie’s Coconut Butter
2:55 Frontier Snacks
3:05 Frau Fowler
3:10 Fatworks
3:15 Peteybird
3:20 Etalia Foods
3:25 Missy J’s
3:30 Evo Hemp
3:35 The Gluten Free Explorer
3:40 Know Brainer
3:45 Good Spread

Prize Packs Totaling $60,000!

FIRST PLACE
Naturally Colorado – Expo West Trade Show Expenses
New Hope Network – Free Booth at Expo West 2017
Holland and Hart – Trade Marking; Legal Advice
SPINS – Natural Channel Category Snapshot
Whole Brain Consulting – Supply Chain, Operations, QA, R&D, Co-Pack Management
VOCO Creative – Marketing Strategy; Master Calendar
Belmark – Free Press Charges
Anton Collins Mitchell LLP – Tax Preparation
Impact Hub, Boulder – Access to Impact Hub, Boulder
Fresh Ideas Group – Expo West PR Launch Package
Sterling-Rice Group – 1/2 Day With the Legendary Rick Sterling on Marketing Strategies

SECOND PLACE
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP – Legal Services
SPINS – Data Snapshot for Natural Channel
Belmark – 75% Off Labels, Cartons, Film Packaging
Anton Collins Mitchell LLP – Tax Preparation

THIRD PLACE
SPINS – Data Snapshot for Natural Channel
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP – Legal services
Belmark – 50% off labels, cartons, film packaging
Anton Collins Mitchell LLP – Tax Preparation

We thank our Prize Pack contributors!

Judges:

Biographies of our judges are below.

  • Victoria Hartman – Senior Vice President at Alliance Sales and Marketing
  • Steve Hoffman – Founder and Managing Director of Compass Natural
  • Doug Radi – CEO of Good Karma Foods
  • Sonja Tuitele – Strategic Communications Consultant

The Audience is also a Judge!

If you’re in the audience for Pitch Slam Finals, you’ll hear five Pitch Slammers pitch their young company… then you’ll vote who should win our 2016 Pitch Slam! The audience vote will carry the same weight as each of our other four judges! And the winning company will receive a Prize Pack that can change the course of their business forever.


Reception:

Reception media
5:00 – 7:00 PM – Paid registration required

The magic of Naturally Colorado happens mostly in-person. And this two-hour reception is an annual high point as we gather together the industry’s leading manufacturers, service providers, investors, employees, retailers, and buyers.

We’ll delight you with an organic and natural buffet and passed appetizers, mingling, free drink tickets, and the Pitch Slam showcase rooms.


Pitch Slam Finals & Autumn Awards

Pitch Slam Finals & Autumn Awards
7:00 – 9:00 PM – Paid registration required

Pitch Slam Award
From the multitude of promising young brands achieving early successes, only one company will be recognized as the Naturally Colorado 2016 Pitch Slam winner!

Breakout Brand of 2016 Award
This award will be presented to a Colorado-based company which, over the most recent 12 month period, has significantly raised its profile via breakthrough innovation, accelerated market performance, media buzz, philanthropic efforts or other means. Although we take into reasonable consideration a company’s long-term financial viability, we also place emphasis on the company’s product set, business model, and mission and purpose. Must have at least one person in organization who is a Naturally Colorado member.

Industry Leader / Community Champ Award
This award will be presented to an individual who has advanced the Colorado natural products community through deliberate and considerate advocacy, mentorship, and/or leadership. Consideration is given to the length and depth of commitment the individual has demonstrated to the Colorado natural products community. Must be a Naturally Colorado member.


Getting to the Event

We encourage you to share a ride, or bus, or bike! Buses stopping at the UMC include: DASH, SKIP, HOP, AB, FF1, FF2, FF5, GS, 204, 225. Click to see local routes and to look up schedules.

Parking

Here are instructions in case you decide to drive. (Note: Euclid Parking Garage will be closed for construction.) Parking Map

Guests arriving between 12:00 – 4:15 PM
All CU lots require payment during this time. We suggest you use the Folsom Parking Garage. Folsom Parking Map.

Guests arriving between 4:15-6:45 PM
Naturally Colorado has arranged a limited number of FREE reserved spaces in CU campus lots #308 (Regent / Broadway) and #470 (Kittredge Loop). It’ll take you 5-15 minutes to walk to our event venue. We’ve hired CU parking attendants to guide you to the venue, and to direct you to alternative lots in case these get filled. Additional information: CU Parking & Transportation Services

Guests With Special Needs
Please email us upon your event registration at info@naturallycolorado.org, subject line, “October 27/Handicapped Parking” and kindly let us know that you require handicapped parking. You may also call 303-492-7384 for campus ADA information.

Victoria Hartman – Naturally Colorado Board Member 2011-2013
Victoria is a results-proven, 25+ year veteran of the natural and organic product industry with a progressive track record of executive sales and marketing leadership in established, rapid growth, and entrepreneurial companies. Victoria has maintained sales and marketing leadership positions with companies such as Celestial Seasonings, Horizon Organic Dairy, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, and Madhava Natural Sweeteners. In April 2014, Victoria was recruited by Alliance Sales & Marketing to lead their west expansion and run a strategic division of the company offering a comprehensive brand management solution to start-up brands with high growth potential. In July, Victoria was chosen to lead the management of Alliance’s natural channel organization. Naturally Colorado Board Member 2011-2013

Steve Hoffman – Naturally Colorado Board Member 2006 – 2010
Steve serves as Founder and Managing Director of Compass Natural, a full-service public relations, marketing, brand communications, and strategic business development agency specializing in the $300-billion LOHAS – or Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability – market. He is Co-founder of LOHAS Journal and the LOHAS Forum sustainable business conference, and former Program Director for Natural Products Expo East and West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade expositions.

Steve moved to Boulder in 1988 with New Hope Network, producer of Natural Products Expo, as Editorial Director of its highly respected natural products trade publishing division, including Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, where he served through 1993. Hoffman also served as National Marketing Director and Rocky Mountain Regional Sales Manager for Arrowhead Mills, at the time the leading organic brand in the U.S., and now a division of the Hain-Celestial Group. Steve is a founding member of Naturally Colorado, and served as President, VP and board member.

As Managing Director of The Organic Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, Hoffman helped advance scientific research and education behind the benefits of organic food and farming. As an Agricultural Extension Agent in the mid-1980s for Penn State University, he served as a Director of Philadelphia’s Urban Gardening Program, where he helped establish more than 125 food gardens in low-income Hispanic neighborhoods in the city over a 3-year period. Hoffman is active in IFOAM Organics International and Regeneration International, promoting organic agriculture as a solution to feeding the world and cooling the planet. Hoffman is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in agriculture and education in Honduras and Costa Rica in Central America. He received a M.S. in Agriculture from Penn State University.

Doug Radi – Naturally Colorado Board Member 2008 – 2012
Doug is a classical, ‘big company’ packaged goods marketer turned growth entrepreneur in the natural products industry. He currently serves as President and CEO of Good Karma Foods, the leading producer of flax based non-dairy milk and kefir products, where he recently relocated the business to Boulder, built out a new team and is in the process of accelerating growth of the Brand. Prior to Good Karma, Doug served as interim General Manager of Rudi’s Organic Bakery after the successful sale to The Hain Celestial Group. During his tenure at Rudi’s, Doug was responsible for all key growth initiatives, acting as SVP of Sales & Marketing where he was able to more than double revenue in less than 4 years. He has 20 years of experience in various consumer products categories, including healthcare, snack foods, frozen, dairy, and organic. Passionate about the natural products industry, Doug is a past President of Naturally Colorado, serves on a number of small company boards, and regularly mentors emerging brand entrepreneurs. He has an undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and a MBA in Marketing from Wake Forest University.

Sonja Tuitele – Naturally Colorado Board Member 2009 – 2013
Sonja is a consultant specializing in strategic communications with a focus on the natural and organic products industry. Her expertise spans the areas of crisis management, media relations, investor relations, public affairs & issues management, marketing communications and corporate social responsibility. Prior to becoming a consultant, Sonja served as Vice President of Communications for Aurora Organic Dairy, the leading national organic dairy company serving the private label market. Before joining Aurora, she was Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at Wild Oats Markets from 2001 to 2007. In this role, she was responsible for all communications for the Company nationally, including investor relations, media relations, corporate social responsibility, crisis management and employee communications. Sonja received her M.S. degree in Marketing Communications from Northwestern University, and her B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Hawaii. She started her career as a journalist, and has won several awards for her work in the corporate communications field.


Past Winners

2015
Pitch Slam: Wild Zora
Breakout Brand: Quinn Popcorn
Industry Leader / Community Cham: Steve Hughes

Pitch Slam
2nd place – Rowdy Mermaid
3rd place – Lillabee
4th place – Cows Gone Wild
5th place – NuBru

2014
Pitch Slam: Appleooz
Best Young Business: Noosa Yoghurt
Company of the Year: Boulder Brands
The Lance Gentry Breakthrough Innovation Award: Quinn Popcorn
Lifetime Achievement: Joan Boykin

2013
Pitch Slam: Compo Keeper
Best Young Business: Alfalfa’s Market
Company of the Year: WhiteWave Foods Company
Local Hero: Bryce Winton Brown
Focus on the Future: Silk
The Lance Gentry Breakthrough Innovation Award: Goddess Garden
Lifetime Achievement: Mo Siegel

2012
Pitch Slam: Dressed Up Salad Dressing
Best Young Business: Boulder Soup Works
Company of the Year: Door to Door Organics
Local Hero: Joan Boykin
Focus on the Future: Teatulia
The Lance Gentry Breakthrough Innovation Award: Cheribundi
Lifetime Achievement: Paul Repetto

2011
Pitch Slam: Bamboobies
Best Young Business: New Planet Beer
Company of the Year: EVOL Foods
Local Hero: Chef Ann Cooper, The Renegade Lunch Lady
Lifetime Achievement: Hass Hassan

2010
Pitch Slam: White Girl Salsa
Best Young Business: Bhakti Chai
Company of the Year: Rudi’s Organic Bakery
Local Hero: Ramona Clark, Growing Gardens
Lifetime Achievement: Steve Demos

2009
Pitch Slam: Goddess Garden
Best Young Business: MIX 1
Company of the Year: Eco-Products
Lifetime Achievement: Mark Retzloff

2008
Pitch Slam: Sticky Fingers Cooking

2007
Pitch Slam: “Under Research”

2006
Pitch Slam: Phil’s Fresh Foods (later changed to evol Foods)

2005
Pitch Slam: “Under Research”

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