Businesses Participate in the Ponca City Pitch-Off

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Businesses Participate in the Ponca City Pitch-Off
Contact: Kat Long, Ponca City Development Authority
580-765-7070; klong@goponca.com
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PONCA CITY, OKLA. – Three companies participated in the first annual Ponca City Business Plan Competition &
Pitch-off sponsored by Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) and Pioneer Technology Center on April 25,
2017 at the City Hall Meeting Rooms. Businesses interested in participating were asked to submit a 10-page
small business plan for critique and scoring, prepare a five-minute pitch for judges and be ready to answer up
to 10 minutes of questions from same judges about any aspect of their pitch or business plan. The winner of
this year’s Business Plan Competition and Pitch-off is KB Enterprises, LLC and their product Gatehands.

“This business plan competition/pitch-off is a great opportunity for businesses to present their
business plan to experienced judges for feedback, as well as pitching their products in a shark-tank
environment for access to incentives designed to keep these businesses in Ponca City,” said Mike Boon,
Pioneer Technology Center Business & Industry Services Executive Director. “Pioneer Tech is pleased to work
with PCDA to offer this type of competition and review of new company’s business plans and pitches.”
PCDA and Pioneer Technology Center are excited to congratulate the winner of the first Ponca City
Business Plan Competition & Pitch-off, KB Enterprises, LLC who will receive over $5,000 in incentives for their
company. These incentives include a year-long Ponca City Chamber membership, one year’s space in the
Pioneer Technology Business Incubator as well as assistance with marketing, advertising and equipment
funding.

KB Enterprises, LLC is a manufacturing company owned and operated by the father and daughter team
of Kelsey Wagner and Brad Fredrick. The product presented in the business plan and pitch-off is Gatehands,
which is a fully patented, innovative tube gate latch available in a variety of sizes and styles. “Right now, our
product is the only double tube gate latch available in three sizes on the market,” said Kelsey Wagner during
her Pitch. “Our target retail customers include cattle ranchers, construction companies, oil and natural gas
companies and any farm owner with aluminum gates currently being held closed by chains or wire.” More
information about this product can be found at www.gatehands.com.

Judges reviewed business plans, listened to all three business pitches and selected KB Enterprises as
the high scorer and winner of the Pitch-off for 2017. The five judges were Jason Johnson, RCB Bank Executive
Vice President; Brad Purdy, First National Bank of Oklahoma President; Jon Robertson, Blackwell Industrial
Authority Executive Director; Kyle Eastham, OSU School of Entrepreneurship Professor and Jeff Lockett,
Agriculture Business Management at Pioneer Technology Center.
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The other two businesses participating in the competition were Vortex Alley Brewing and Elizabeth’s
Mosaic Glass & Gift Shop. Vortex Alley Brewing is in the process of renovating a tap room location at Third and
Central here in Ponca City. VAB beer can be sampled at various events around Kay County and can be Liked
and Followed on Facebook at Vortex Alley Brewing. Elizabeth’s Mosaic Glass is still in the development phase.
For more information about business planning, please visit www.goponca.com or contact Kat Long at
klong@goponca.com or 580-765-7070. For more information on the Pioneer Technology Center Business
Incubator program, please contact Bonnie Cook at 580-718-4262.