Ten Local Businesses Compete for $100,000 Hatch Bloomington Prize
Ten local entrepreneurs pitched their business concepts Tuesday evening at the second annual Hatch Bloomington competition, vying for a $100,000 prize to launch or expand their ventures in the city.
The competition, held at the Blackbox Theater at Civic Plaza, featured diverse businesses ranging from a Nordic bath house to a cannabis dispensary. Each finalist had 10 minutes to present their concept followed by 10 minutes of questions from judges.
This is such an exciting time," said Mayor Tim Busse, welcoming the crowd. "You've got 10 minutes to bring forward this wonderful business plan, this wonderful idea you've got and convince folks this is the way to go.
The finalists included Bastu Bloomington, proposing a modern Nordic-inspired bath house with hot and cold therapies; Bloomington Farm and Feed, an agricultural supply delivery service; Bookmother, an independent bookstore; Hearts and Spades, a gaming food hall; and Hotbox Pies, a gluten-free pizza restaurant. Also competing were Nuna Restaurant for African cuisine, Chocolate Bar dessert house, The Plug cannabis retail business, Twin City Streetwear sneaker resale, and Veterans Post Provisions coffee business.
Public voting opened during the event and runs through August 12 at 11:59 p.m. Community members can vote once at hatchbloomington.com/vote or by scanning QR codes provided at the venue. Competition results will be announced in September, according to organizers.
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Areas of Interest (4)
- Small business innovation: How the City of Bloomington is using $100,000 grants to spur local entrepreneurship.
- The 'Bath House' movement: Is a Nordic spa concept a viable long-term business in the Twin Cities suburbs?
- Entrepreneurship born from crisis: The emotional and logistical drive behind the creation of 'Bloomington Farm and Feed'.
- Technology in traditional services: How startups are utilizing AI and automation to keep operating costs low in physical retail.
Notable Quotes (3)
If last year was any indication for us... everyone here has somebody who they're cheering for.
Bastu Bloomington, your modern Nordic inspired bath house featuring hot and cold therapies for mental and physical wellness.
BFF isn't just filling the gap, it's creating a community hub. And in just one year, we've built what I call Instacart for backyard farmers.
People (5)
Tim BusyMayor of BloomingtonOpening the second year of the Hatch Bloomington pitch competition at Civic Plaza.
1 quote
Opening the second year of the Hatch Bloomington pitch competition at Civic Plaza.
“There is an extension of support across this entire program, which I thought was very special last year.”
Describing the community atmosphere of the event.
Barb WolfAssistant Port Authority AdministratorExplaining event rules and voting procedures for the competition.
Explaining event rules and voting procedures for the competition.
Dave ArianCo-FounderPitching Bastu Bloomington, a Nordic-inspired bath house.
Pitching Bastu Bloomington, a Nordic-inspired bath house.
Diana ArianCo-FounderPitching the health benefits and business model of Bastu Bloomington.
Pitching the health benefits and business model of Bastu Bloomington.
Michelle ZimmerOwner and FounderPitching Bloomington Farm and Feed, an agriculture supply service.
Pitching Bloomington Farm and Feed, an agriculture supply service.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (1)
- Hatch Bloomington pitch competition: August 12, 2025
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Other Topics from This Document
Hatch Bloomington pitch competition
Pitch: Bastu Bloomington (Nordic bath house)
Pitch: Bloomington Farm and Feed (backyard agriculture supply)
Small business development in Bloomington
Entrepreneurial community support and wellness
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