Momentum Business Plan Competition Announces 5 Finalists

Five finalists have been chosen in the 2025 Momentum Business Plan Competition and will have five minutes to present their business ideas to judges and a live audience on May 8.

A panel of judges will decide who will take top honors. The prize breakdown is as follows:

• First place: $15,000 cash and $10,000 in business support services
• Second place: $10,000 cash and $5,000 in support services
• People’s Choice Award: $5,000 cash (decided by audience in attendance)

Chosen from a pool of 13 applicants, here are the five finalists:

• Hitch Hiker Coffee serves espresso, coffee, tea and other hand-crafted beverages at 100 W. Foster St., Ludington. Owner Kelsie LaFreniere prides the business in providing high-quality ingredients, including organic syrups, to her customers. In her third year of business, her current goal is to purchase a larger trailer for the mobile coffee company to enhance the customer experience by providing quick and efficient service.
  
  
• My Happy Place is a hub for artists to display their products in Downtown Ludington – a sort of “art show that never ends.” Owned by Jim and Cathy Coleman, the company has been in business for one year and supports 75 small businesses in the artist market. Every product featured is a hand-crafted original or an upcycled, environmentally conscious design. If chosen as a winner, My Happy Place would increase its inventory and purchase new office equipment.
  
  
• Rizzo's Bread is a small-batch bakery based in Mason County. Baker and chef, Trevor Lehew, has worked over a decade as a professional chef and developed a stand-out bagel. Every bagel is hand-rolled, boiled, and baked fresh, creating a product that is already gaining a loyal following. Rizzo’s wants to become the go-to bread provider for local businesses, restaurants and families “who care about where their food comes from.” The company’s goal is to double its number of pop-ups and wholesale partnerships, local events and farmers markets. Winning prize money would assist the business in purchasing key baking equipment and expanding its production capabilities.
  
  
• The Roots Peony Farm, LLC will be “grown from the ground up” in Hamlin Township to establish one of the region's only peony flower farms. Troy Veeneman states that the high demand for this seasonal, sought-after flower will support the business, which will be the only opportunity within 100 miles of Mason County to secure the flower. Prize money would be used for initial planting costs, insurance, and website development/marketing. Veeneman hopes to start the business in Fall 2025.
  
  
• Vintage Bloom Boutique will be a new family-owned business, located at 303 S. James St., Ludington, specializing in antiques, decor, and fashion accessories. Products will also include locally made jewelry, art, candles, custom cookies, and specialty food items. If chosen as a winner, Janet and Edward Merriman would use the prize money to refurbish the building with new flooring, windows, drywall and insulation.

Pitch Night

Momentum Pitch Night will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8 at Ludington Area Center for the Arts with a meet-and-greet session with the finalists. The public is invited to attend this free event.

Business pitches will begin at 6 p.m., and the audience will have the chance to get involved by voting during the event to help decide the winner of the $5,000 People’s Choice Award.

About Momentum
Launched in 2015, the Momentum Business Plan Competition awarded one business entrepreneur a prize of $50,000 to start or move an early-stage business to Mason County. Funded by Pennies from Heaven Foundation and administered by the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, the competition was open to any small Mason County business or nonprofit organization.

The competition idea was spearheaded by Pennies from Heaven Foundation founder John Wilson, who was searching for a way to foster and grow the existing entrepreneurial spirit of Mason County, where he made his business mark. 

Over the years, the Momentum board has awarded prizes to Side Step Farms, Inspired Parties, Sister Bees, All Occasions Events & Floral, KandyLand Dairy, and Starving Artist Brewery.