I have some huge news to share with The Borrow Bar community! I am thrilled to announce that The Borrow Bar has been selected as one of 17 finalists statewide in the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s (SBCN) Inaugural ‘Startup Showdown’.

Made possible through a funding partnership with the Wells Fargo Foundation, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), and the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, this competition was built to empower high-potential ventures across the state and award over $60,000 in unrestricted startup funding to help founders scale.

The Journey So Far: Bootcamp and Pitch Day

Over the summer, I rolled up my sleeves for an intense, two-month business boot camp. From June through July, I completed the nationally recognized REAL Entrepreneurship Pitch It! curriculum while working one-on-one with our local Wake Tech Small Business Center advisors. Together, we dove deep into validating market demand, strengthening financial projections, and refining every detail of our business model.

Just last weekend, I put all that hard work to the test during a high-stakes, “Shark Tank”-style Pitch Day. Standing before a distinguished panel of business leaders, finance experts, and startup veterans was an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to present our full vision for The Borrow Bar—showing how providing community access to high-quality gear helps people save money, reclaim storage space, and live more sustainably.

How You Can Help Us Win: Public Voting Opens Sept. 1

While the panel of expert judges is currently evaluating our presentation, there is another major component to our final score: you!

From September 1 through September 15, public voting opens across North Carolina. Every single “like” our official pitch video receives on YouTube will count directly toward our final tally.

Here is how you can support me in bringing home startup funding for The Borrow Bar:

• Mark Your Calendar: Public voting runs strictly from September 1 through September 15.
• Head to YouTube: Visit the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s official YouTube channel starting September 1.
• Watch Our Pitch: Find The Borrow Bar’s pitch video to watch the presentation.
• Hit “Like”: Click the thumbs-up button on the video, as every “like” counts as an official vote!
• Spread the Word: Share the link with your friends, family, and neighbors across North Carolina who believe in owning less and doing more!

What’s Next

Our final ranking will combine the judges’ Pitch Day evaluations with our public voting totals. The top three winners will be announced live on September 17 at an invitation-only awards reception in Raleigh.

Securing a portion of this $60,000 prize pool would allow us to significantly expand our local inventory, upgrade our member experience, and make borrowing high-quality gear even easier for our community. I am so grateful for the mentorship from our local Small Business Center team and the support from Wells Fargo and NCCCS.

Set a reminder for September 1, get ready to hit that “like” button on YouTube, and thank you for being on this journey with me!