Hamptons Entrepreneurs To Compete For Start-Up Funds Over Thanksgiving Weekend

i-hamptons will host its first Riptide: $ink or $wim event at the Southampton Arts Center over Thanksgiving weekend. On Saturday, November 25, the event will present an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and inventive minds to pitch their ideas to a panel of “sharks” with the hopes of winning $25,000 to fund their start-ups.

Five finalists were selected from 20 local entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas in live time before a panel of distinguished professionals and an audience of 150 people. Each finalist will deliver a five-minute presentation, which will be followed by a ten-minute question and answer session. At the end of the event, audience members will vote and select the winning start-up. Finalists have the chance to receive a cash prize, mentorships, access to a network of start-ups, and more.

The panel of “sharks” includes Bion Bartning, the co-founder of EOS Beauty; David Bohnett, a philanthropist and founder of Geocities; Jeff Brodlieb, a partner at Centripetal Capital Partners; and Kathleen King, author and owner of Tate’s Bake Shop.

“I am delighted that our Riptide event is able to showcase the depth and breadth of local talent, and I am excited to see this innovation community continue to grow all year round,” remarked Ashley John Heather, Founder of i-hamptons. “Mentorship is a critical part of building any start-up business, so having this panel of successful entrepreneurs involved in supporting the next generation of innovators is vital.”

During October, community members had the chance view submissions and vote for the five finalists. They selected: Doc Power, a renewable energy powered generator fueled by solar and wind power; Five North Chocolate, which makes vegan and fair trade snacking chocolate; Premex, a digital advertising solution that utilizes data to help brands measure audience engagement; Sweet Vineyards, the creator of cocktails that one can eat, such as wine-infused biscotti; and Tote Taxi, a courier service that transports luggage from Manhattan to Montauk. More information about the finalists, as well as the semi-finalists, can be found at i-hamptons’ website.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. and will run until 6 p.m. i-hamptons members can attend the event for free and may bring one guest. Additional guests and non-members must pay an entrance fee of $25. Entry to the event includes free refreshments from Southampton Social Club.

i-hamptons brands itself as the Hamptons’ first networking community and resource provider for local innovators. These resources include local events, such as $ink or $wim, co-working facilities, education, and investment opportunities.

Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton. For more information about i-hamptons or to purchase tickets and RSVP, please visit www.i-hamptons.com.