Smart Web founders Alena and Aliaks Tarasevich accept their prize. Photo by Michael Thompson.
A first-year startup contest dished out its top prizes Thursday night, and a local web developer that caters to restaurants went home the winner.
Smart Web Restaurant won first prize at the inaugural Scorecard competition, put on by business mentorship group Score Richmond. The winners were chosen at an event held at Virginia Biotechnology Park at 800 E. Leigh St.
Smart Web founders Alena and Aliaks Tarasevich won $5,000 for taking top honors. They also have the option of using office space at the Richmond Times-Dispatch building on East Franklin Street.
The Taraseviches, a-husband-and wife-team, said they will the use the prize money for marketing and increasing their sales. It took them 3,000 hours to develop their business. It currently has three restaurant clients and will look to grow that number to more than 40 in 2016.
John Comstock of UPS and a Scorecard judge said Smart Web won because of its potential for growth.
“It’s a scalable business,” he said.
Smart Web beat out two other startups, though the runners-up didn’t go home empty-handed.
Go Ninja, a forthcoming family-friendly fitness center, won $2,500 for second place. Ivy Oaks Analytics, a pest control company, won $1,000 for placing third.
To qualify, participants had to be for- or non-profits in any industry based in Richmond that have been in business less than two years and have not previously won a business competition.
Last night’s event was the second chance the competitors had to pitch to the panel of judges. An earlier round made up of 10 startup hopefuls was held in January.
Smart Web founders Alena and Aliaks Tarasevich accept their prize. Photo by Michael Thompson.
A first-year startup contest dished out its top prizes Thursday night, and a local web developer that caters to restaurants went home the winner.
Smart Web Restaurant won first prize at the inaugural Scorecard competition, put on by business mentorship group Score Richmond. The winners were chosen at an event held at Virginia Biotechnology Park at 800 E. Leigh St.
Smart Web founders Alena and Aliaks Tarasevich won $5,000 for taking top honors. They also have the option of using office space at the Richmond Times-Dispatch building on East Franklin Street.
The Taraseviches, a-husband-and wife-team, said they will the use the prize money for marketing and increasing their sales. It took them 3,000 hours to develop their business. It currently has three restaurant clients and will look to grow that number to more than 40 in 2016.
John Comstock of UPS and a Scorecard judge said Smart Web won because of its potential for growth.
“It’s a scalable business,” he said.
Smart Web beat out two other startups, though the runners-up didn’t go home empty-handed.
Go Ninja, a forthcoming family-friendly fitness center, won $2,500 for second place. Ivy Oaks Analytics, a pest control company, won $1,000 for placing third.
To qualify, participants had to be for- or non-profits in any industry based in Richmond that have been in business less than two years and have not previously won a business competition.
Last night’s event was the second chance the competitors had to pitch to the panel of judges. An earlier round made up of 10 startup hopefuls was held in January.