Jan 30, 2013, 1:28pm CST

Lead Ventures’ accelerator program names five finalists

James Dornbrook | Reporter-Kansas City Business Journal

Lead Ventures named five finalists for its Eastern Jackson County Challenge business accelerator program.

The finalists are in the running for a $50,000 prize that will be awarded to one or more of the companies after a six-month competition.

The companies in the running are: The Berry Nutty Farm; BBQ Addicts; Community Buying Group; Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids; and vProviders.

“The finalists are from diverse industries,” Lead Ventures CEO Josh Rowland said. “The thing that is great with them is the level of talent and excitement that these people have for their ventures. These are smart, hardworking people. It should be a good competition.”

The finalists all receive a suite of business services valued at $10,000 or more, which they can use for six months before presenting their companies to an executive panel of business experts who will name the winner or winners. Throughout the program, the finalists will be introduced to Kansas City’s angel investment and professional investment community.

The program is led by Lead Ventures, a business accelerator affiliated with Lee’s Summit-based Lead Bank.

“There is clearly a great feeling and enthusiasm for developing Eastern Jackson County as a place for small businesses to develop and grow,” Rowland said. “Our bank is uniquely positioned with services from

consulting, to small market mergers and acquisition work, to the banking services we provide businesses. So we want to provide a catalyst for the activities already under way in Eastern Jackson County. We want to work with all the other agencies and people committed to developing the community.”

James reports about banking, financial services, manufacturing and sports business.