All Over Albany

AOA Startup Grant finalists presentations are this Monday

Just a quick reminder that the finalists presentations for the AOA Startup Grant are this coming Monday evening (April 20) at the College of Saint Rose. This is the first year the presentations are open to the public. It's free to attend -- we just ask that you pre-register.

The finalists for this year's grant are:

+ Jerzey's Dog Resort, a dog boarding and day care facility.

+ The Dutch Udder, an ice cream company.

+ Flower Scout, a floral design business and flower farm.

The finalists will be pitching their projects to the panel of judges in short presentations, and the judges will be asking the finalists a few questions. These interactions have been interesting in years past, as the judges get into topics like business structure, marketing, and how the business fits into a person's life.

The three judges who will be selecting this year's winner are:

+ Lissa D'Aquanni: director of community relations at the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, and former small business owner.

+ Rhea Drysdale: founder and CEO of Troy-based online marketing firm Outspoken Media.

+ And, stepping in because of a scheduling conflict, Duncan Crary of Duncan Crary Communications.

The presentations are Monday, April 20 at 6:30 pm in the Science Center (993 Madison Ave) Room 369.

Thanks to Berkshire Bank for providing the prize money and to Staff Ciampino & Company P.C., Certified Public Accountants and The Huether School of Business at the College of Saint Rose for sponsoring the contest this year.