The first-place prize of $30,000 was awarded to Dan Spangler, founder of Rinse-A-Poo. A former pet resort operator, Spangler developed his product to solve persistent sanitation challenges in the pet care industry. Supported by the Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center, he plans to use the capital to transition from prototype to full-scale production.
Victoria Gadbois of Victorious Wellness claimed second place and $20,000 for her holistic women's wellness concept, while Phil McNutt of The Gilded Lantern Co. took third, receiving $10,000 for his mobile mystery adventure business. The competition, which drew over 300 applicants, required finalists to complete a specialized entrepreneurship course and endure a public voting phase that generated more than 9,300 votes.
Officials gathered in Raleigh on September 17 to celebrate the winners, including Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. The initiative, funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, highlights the role of the state's 58 community colleges in fostering local economic growth. Beyond the prize money, the network provided over 1,000 hours of counseling to applicants, reinforcing a mission to sustain small businesses across all 100 counties.
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