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SEASIDE, Calif., May 16, 2018 – Winners of the 2018 Startup Challenge Monterey Bay were selected by a panel of judges at ÌÇÐÄTV¹ÙÍø @ Salinas City Center May 12, 2018. The 25 finalists first pitched their business ideas in a 10-minute presentation to a panel of judges before a final “shark tank” style pitch competition determined the victors.

, a company that transforms shrimp shell waste into the eco-friendly equivalent of styrofoam, won the $20,000 cash prize in the Venture Division. , a homemade garlic sauce made with locally sourced garlic, won the Main Street Division, and earned a $10,000 cash prize.

BOHO Marketplace, founded by two students from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, took home a $1,500 cash prize in the Student Division.

 

“It was a great experience! A truly inclusive environment. We made many useful connections to further our company."

— Founder of Cruz Foam, Marco Rolandi

This year, a total of 82 entrepreneurs from the Monterey Bay region entered the Startup Challenge. All past winners in the Venture Division are still in business and have raised over $10.5M in capital investments. All but one of the Main Street winners are still in business.

Startup Challenge Monterey Bay is supported by ÌÇÐÄTV¹ÙÍø’s Institute for Innovation and Economic Development. The premier sponsor for this event is the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA). Other major sponsors include Wells Fargo and the City of Salinas.