Gigabit internet service provider takes prize in pitch competition

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Creative Foundry, The eFactory and Originate are proud to announce that gigabit internet service provider Share a Gig took home the prize in today’s Go BIG pitch competition.

The startup will receive $5,000 and a six month lease with Missouri State’s business incubator The eFactory. Included in their lease at The eFactory, Share a Gig will benefit from to in kind business support services, facility resources designed specifically for entrepreneurs and direct access to an environment that encourages collaboration among startup companies.

Share a Gig founder Matthew Thomas is working on plans to bring full gigabit internet access to residents and businesses of urban markets without the traditional costs of building out a high capacity gigabit fiber network--and he hopes to start with downtown Springfield.

“This event showcased the exciting things happening in the entrepreneurial scene in Springfield,” Ryan Mooney, Senior Vice President of Economic Development at the Springfield Chamber said. “All four of our finalists did an outstanding job. The judges were faced with a very tough decision, and the scores were very close.”

Other finalists in the Go BIG pitch competition included INSPXTR, Panda Laundry Factory and Safe Food for Me. For weeks, these entrepreneurs worked to hone their pitches before facing the judges in today’s competition.

Each finalist was scored based on validity, investment quality and presentation. The panel of judges included Jeff Schrag, owner of Mother’s Brewing, Christine Daues, owner of Granolove and Jim Michels, owner of The Creative Foundry.