Children’s boutique takes home top prize in Alliance business competition
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A crowd gathered at Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region’s Hingst Hall Thursday evening for what would become a memorable night for one local entrepreneur at the fifth annual The Drive: A Business Pitch Competition, presented by Inventrek Technology Park.
The Drive, an initiative of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, is a “Shark Tank”-style business pitch competition in which three finalists are chosen to present their pitch in front of a live audience. They are given a time allotment of 10 minutes to pitch, followed by a series of questions from judges Monty Henderson, Ethan Heicher and Bob Hickman.
The presentations were a culmination of months of guidance from the Alliance staff. Since April, each finalist worked to hone their pitch and build improved concept plans for their shot at $10,000.
The finalists were Adrean Lamberg, Kayla Sager, and the duo of Ethan Hasting and Mason Kaiser.
Lamberg, owner of Brix and Co. Candles, a handcrafted candle brand inspired by clean living, self-care, and creating cozy spaces, was the first contestant of the evening. She believes in “expanding the glow” by creating safe and clean candle products without harmful ingredients.
Up next was Kayla Sager, owner of Heritage Kingdom Children’s Boutique, which offers children’s clothing featuring sustainable, durable fabrics and original designs. Kayla pushed a baby stroller to the judges’ table and gave them each a gift basket, showcasing her products.
After she took the stage, Sager informed the audience, “I just had a baby six days ago, but I’m still here!” She told the story of her firstborn child having sensitive skin and how a mother’s quest turned into a business.
The last of the finalists was The Squee Gees, a window washing service founded by Hasting and Kaiser, two recent high school graduates.
After each contestant gave their pitch, the judges were excused to deliberate. The crowd then heard from Luke Talley, the 2024 winner of The Drive, about the success his business, Backwoods Trading Co., has achieved since winning. His success has not only been financial, but he has succeeded in becoming a part of the Kokomo community, providing branding to local businesses like The Bohemian Tattoo Club, Fired Arts Studio, the Kokomo Fire Department, and many more.
Backwoods Trading Co. is also participating in a Kokomo first. Standing on the stage Talley exclaimed, “You know they make watches in Kokomo, right?” Referring to Palmer’s Jewelry’s Kokomo watch, he said, “I’m making the strap three doors down!”
Tally closed out his speech by reminding everyone to “keep your nose to the grindstone and anything is possible.”
After a brief reception where guests met the contestants and learned more about their products, the judges returned to the room. The guests took their seats, anxiously awaiting the verdict.
Sager was named the 2025 winner of The Drive and the $10,000 prize. The mother on a mission, six days postpartum with baby No. 2, left the crowd with a final statement in regard to the best business plan
“I’m ready to pivot, so just like ‘Friends’ (TV show) bringing the sectional down, I’m ready to pivot, pivot, pivot,” said Sager. “That’s how you survive.”
See additional photos from this event on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.