IGNITE Rural Business 2025

Great Bend Economic Development presents the 3rd annual IGNITE Rural Business. This competition exists to empower, support and cultivate entrepreneurs and foster new business in Great Bend and the surrounding area. Here in Barton County we strive to champion creativity and innovative thinking and compliment a project or idea with the tools, resources and investment necessary to see it thrive. We aim for this competition to be the just one of many efforts to continue that mission in a positive and impactful way.

July 1, 2025 All application components due.

July 8, 2025 Up to 25 applicants will be selected to engage in a one-on-one meeting with a business planning professional here in Great Bend or virtually should you be outside of Barton County.

*In this phase, the business planning professional will assist in strengthening the applicants business plan. The business planning professional will then assess all of the businesses on  innovation, creativity, and long term business strategy and viability. Applicants are able to and encouraged to start working with our business planning professionals even before submitting components.

August 4, 2025 Up to 10 applicants who complete the pre-selection process will be selected as Semi-Finalists.

*In this phase, all semi-finalists will be matched with one or more business mentors to strengthen their business idea. The semi-finalists will then meet in person in Great Bend with the IGNITE jury. The semi-finalists will each be provided ten (10) minutes to present their company and to convince the members of the jury of the merits of their business concept. Every pitch will be followed by up to ten (10) minutes of Q&A conducted by the jury. The jury will assess all of the businesses on innovation, creativity and long term business strategy and viability.

September 26th, 2025 Up to 5 applicants will be chosen to continue on and compete at the live event on October 9th, 2025 as Finalists to see who will win big money to start their business in Barton County!

October 9th, 2025 The top 3-5 will compete live at the Crest Theatre in Great Bend, KS for a chance to win the following prize monies:
1st place: $50,000
2nd place: $30,000
3rd place: $10,000
Peoples Choice: $5,000

*Finalists will be required to present their concept in a live event. A tradeshow-like presentation and/or other innovative ways to show off your business concept are encouraged for this final round.

Visit
www.igniteks.com for more information and to follow along with the competition.