Pueblo's version of 'Shark Tank' returns April 9-10

Tracy Harmon, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
·2 min read

Mar. 6—Got an idea for the next great business or invention?

Just need a little financial boost or mentoring to take that creative plan to the next level?

The SOCO Entrepreneurship Competition, set for April 9-10 is right around the corner and it is the local version of the ABC reality TV show Shark Tank.

The deadline to sign up is March 15.

Michael Wakefield, director of the Healy Center for Business and Economic Research at CSU Pueblo Hasan School of Business co-founded the competition with Ryan Madic nearly nine years ago. The seventh annual event is expected to be groundbreaking since last year's competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The competition is a virtual event this year and kicks off at 6 p.m. April 9 for the student contest and 6 p.m. April 10 for the adult contest. Keynote speaker April 9 will be Pueblo County Commission Chairman Garrison Ortiz, who also is a local business owner.

Glenn Stearns, who starred in the first season of "Undercover Billionaire," will be the keynote speaker April 10.

"I like to say that because of all this entrepreneurship in Pueblo that's the reason why the Discovery Channel was interested in having Pueblo be on (Season 2) of the show," Kurt Madic said.

The competition gives innovative inventors and entrepreneurs a chance to work with local venture capitalists such as Jake Jabs of American Furniture Warehouse and Matt Smith of Snooze Mattress Co. in Pueblo West who is helping to launch Spoon Pillow LLC after one of the recent competitions.

Cash, prizes and scholarships to Pueblo Community College and CSU Pueblo are among the rewards. Plus contestants who really hit the jackpot will convince one of the venture capitalists to use their own money to help launch their business concepts.

Some notable local businesses got help along the way because of the competition. Judy Kochevar pitched the The Hand Truck Company, LLC. helping the innovative moving dolly company roll into action.

Diana Hall launched her ActivArmor business after the first competition which was a springboard for her creative alternative to casting and splinting products.

Two years ago LaDoris Burton pitched her "Comfortable Pockets" clothing and accessory line to expand her "Design's by LaDoris" business in Pueblo West.

As a youth competitor Kurt Madic's son Ryan Madic pitched his EZ Protein Machine which has since earned a full patent.

"We almost got to the next level but the pandemic kind of slowed us down on that," said Kurt Madic.

He said the event will hopefully inspire students and adults to become entrepreneurs and grow jobs locally.

To sign up for the competition or register, go to healycenter.org.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business and Fremont County news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.