A Baton Rouge-based startup sweets shop and an emerging construction company took top honors today at a pitch competition held at Southern University, and they will now be among four local companies advancing to the Capital One Bank Bayou Classic Business Plan Competition, at which $60,000 is up for grabs.
Sugar Belle, which sells everything from bundt cakes to praline brownies from its Plank Road headquarters, was the top winner today in the category for businesses with annual revenue below $250,000. The company, which was founded by local baker Kasie Coleman less than two years ago, has also announced plans for additional shops on Perkins Road and at Baton Rouge Community College’s dining hall.
Taking second place in the small business category was Lemonade Creative Marketing. They will both advance to the Bayou Classic competition, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans on Friday, Nov. 28, along with the top two companies pitching today in the category for businesses with revenues between $250,000 and $1 million.
CLH Builders took the top stop in the large business category, while U-WINK Eyelash Extensions took second place. The four Baton Rouge firms will be competing against the top four companies from both New Orleans and Shreveport at the Bayou Classic pitch competition. —Steve Sanoski
