By Nicole Sado / For The Journal-Standard

Are you ready to jump? That’s the first question you need to answer as an entrepreneur. The answer has to have action, of course. I like to say that I “put the universe on notice” in the fall of 2013 when I spoke these words out loud: “I want to do something on the internet that will help all nonprofits.”

Yep, that’s how vague it was. I didn’t know what exactly; I just knew this was weighing heavy on my heart and mind for months and I needed to do something about it. After jumping, that first step is a doozy. An entrepreneur has to start moving forward, which means taking steps. None of the steps come in the same size; some feel more like baby steps, while others are like stretching across a crevasse.

Some of my steps were scribbling on a notepad what I wanted my site to look like and finding a web developer; others were traveling the country doing market research and understanding my customers. The key is, you have to keep moving.

People will give you directions, also known as advice. Listen to it all. You wouldn’t be able to act on every piece of advice and you shouldn’t, at least not right away. I have been so blessed to start this entrepreneurial venture in Freeport! It is a more supportive environment than I could’ve imagined! Thank you to everyone who has put in the time to learn and support me through this. Some of the advice I have in the back of my mind or written down for when the time is right. Some I took immediately, like when I was given the information about the NIU EIGERlab.

In 2015, I was one of the finalists in the NIU EIGERlab FastPitch competition. I won the inaugural Dale Faulkner Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award. This was a key step as it came with a one-year membership to the NIU EIGERlab Business Incubation/Co-working space.

For that year, I had the opportunity to analyze what I’ve been doing for the last two years and answer the, “What’s next?” question. Sometimes, moving means pivoting and going in a new direction. Which is what I did in January 2016, when NonProfitTHRIVE.com was conceived. I was, for all intents and purposes, starting over. Now what? Keep moving forward.

Keep moving forward meant more steps, with more commitment and investment. I stopped seeing patients (I’m a chiropractor by profession), found a new web development company, and every day meant tweaking and redefining.

Every step in the process is so important and timed perfectly, as I know that this is bigger than me. I recently finished a seven-week intense business-acceleration program with gBETA of Beloit, a division of Genor8tor, a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups.

To say this experience was amazing is an understatement. The next steps … I’d love to tell you more.

Nicole Sado is founder/CEO, NonProfitTHRIVE

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ROCKTON – A Hononegah High School graduate is looking to get a semi-professional basketball team in Beloit started in the next year.

Omar Saulters, who is currently a student at Rock Valley College, was a finalist in the 2017 FastPitch Competition hosted by Northern Illinois University’s EIGERlab on Oct. 4. FastPitch gives entrepreneurs in all phases of business the chance to present their ideas, win cash prizes, and get feedback and exposure. High school seniors and college-age students are welcome to participate.

Rockford, Ill. —The 11^th annual FastPitch Competition was a colossal success with 32 eager presenters sharing their ideas, products, services, and apps vying for over $7,500 dollars in prizes and presenting, possibly, the Next Big Thing!

Trevor Gibbs, M.D., took home the $5,000 first prize for his Anestand^TM product. Anestand^TM holds supplies essential for an anesthesiologist to induce anesthesia in a hygienic way, which keeps the items immediately available at arm’s length. Currently, there is no designated location to place all the items doctors use to put a patient to sleep. The device is versatile as it can attach to the operating room table or any pole, post or hospital bed, allowing the anesthesiologist to work in a variety of situations. Gibbs has been perfecting his product with the assistance of NIU EIGERlab’s Center for Product Development Team.

Jared Larson took second place with his innovative fishing-related tool, the GunkStick, which offers fishermen and women a solution to tackling the problem of keeping their rods and reels free of debris. It is designed to catch and remove cottonwood seeds, weeds, and other debris before it creates a problem. This product is currently sold in Bass Pro Shops and online. Larson was proud to share that all of their processes and products are sourced in the USA. Visit www.mischieffishing.com for more information.

Elisabeth Stecki, the third place winner, presented her Travel Sufficient Alcohol Kits or TSA-Kitä. The TSA-Kitä allows air travelers to bring their own alcoholic beverages into airports and onto their flights. The glass bottles packaged in the water resistant, transparent, durable bags meet TSA Homeland Security regulations. Her kits provide significant cost savings and hassle-free air travel for the consumer many times over. Visit www.whineware.com/ for more information.

Click on the link below for the complete news release.

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ROCKFORD — Trevor Gibbs has found a cure for the cluttered, cramped workspaces he and other anesthesiologists experience at work.

His product Anestand keeps cords, hoses, and other loose items near the operating table off the ground, organized and sanitary.

“It organizes the workspace,” said Gibbs, who works at Edward Hospital in Naperville. “We’re often working in very tight quarters.”

Gibbs’ invention took home the $5,000 first-place prize tonight at the 11th annual Northern Illinois University EIGERlab FastPitch Competition. He said he’ll use the money to obtain patenting paperwork and eventually find a manufacturer in either the Rockford or Chicago area.

Click here for the complete article.

ROCKFORD (WREX) –

Three minutes…
That’s how much time entrepreneurs had to pitch their ideas to judges at the Fastpitch competition Wednesday night. 

It’s the 11th one hosted by NIU’s EIGERlab in Rockford.  30 entrepreneurs presented their inventions.  either products or services.  The winner gets a $5,000 prize.  

Click here for the complete article and photo.

ROCKFORD — Trevor Gibbs has found a cure for the cluttered, cramped workspaces he and other anesthesiologists experience at work.

His product Anestand keeps cords, hoses and other loose items near the operating table off the ground, organized and sanitary.

“It organizes the workspace,” said Gibbs, who works at Edward Hospital in Naperville. “We’re often working in very tight quarters.”

Gibbs’ invention took home the $5,000 first-place prize tonight at the 11th annual Northern Illinois University EIGERlab FastPitch Competition. He said he’ll use the money to obtain patenting paperwork and eventually find a manufacturer in either the Rockford or Chicago area.

More than 30 entrepreneurs, inventors and business professionals from four states pitched their products — and their ambitions — to a panel of judges during the competition, which took place at the Rockford NIU campus.

Over the years, EIGERlab — a business and innovator incubator — has supported local inventions that have made their way to the national spotlight on “Shark Tank,” “Good Morning America” and the Home Shopping Network.

“It’s a safe environment for them to test their products in front of the public and network with people,” said Sherry Pritz Enderle, marketing and events coordinator for EIGERlab.

Jared Larson, of Avalon, Wisconsin, took home second place and $1,000 for GunkStick, a device that gets cottonwood, slime and other debris off a fisherman’s line. Elisabeth Stecki of Chicago took third place and $500 for WhineWare, a TSA-approved kit that allows you to bring your own alcoholic beverages on your flight…

Click here for the complete article and photos.

ROCKFORD (WREX) –

Three minutes…

That’s how much time entrepreneurs get to pitch their ideas to judges at the FastPitch Competition Wednesday.

It’s the 11th one hosted by NIU’s EIGERlab in Rockford.  

Thirty entrepreneurs presented their inventions, either products or services.  

The winner gets a $5,000 prize.  

This year’s winner is Trevor Gibbs.  He invented a stand that holds supplies for an anesthesiologist.  

Now he’ll get to work with the EIGERlab on getting his product out there.

“We market for the people long after the competition is over,” said Sherry Pritz Enderle, the marketing and events coordinator at the EIGERlab.  “Anytime they have a home run we’re happy to share that in our newsletter and through our social media.”

Even if the others didn’t come out on top, organizers said by pitching their ideas to a crowd, many still get advice, business partners even investors out of participating.

Click here for the article and photo.

Rockford, Ill. — From simple, “I should have thought of that” ideas to unique products and services, NIU EIGERlab’s FastPitch Competition has once again attracted 30+ eager presenters who will vie for over $7,500 dollars in prizes, networking and mentoring opportunities, exposure, and possible connections with investors who can finance the deal!

This year’s FastPitch will be held Wednesday, October 4, at NIU-Rockford, 8500 East State Street. The public is welcome to join the “pitchers” starting at 5 p.m. Final presentations, and the keynote address begins at 6 p.m.

Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara will provide insights on his experience as both an entrepreneur and elected official. He’s excited to speak at this year’s FastPitch to welcome and inspire entrepreneurs to build or expand their businesses within the region.

Click on the link below for the complete news release.

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ROCKFORD — Emarc Malavolti and Dean Balbach are ready to take Fresh2Go to the next level.

The Freeport entrepreneurs will pitch their minty-fresh product during two regional competitions in October: the Northern Illinois University EIGERlab FastPitch Competition on Oct. 4 in Rockford, and Freeport Fish Tank on Oct. 26 at The Wagner House downtown.

Fresh2Go has found some success since it started in late 2016. The packages filled with gum, a mint, and a flosser are available at Highland Community College, Joe’s Pizza, Higher Grounds Coffee, This Is It Eatery and other locations, including some Rockford stores. The two hope to reach an even wider audience through the competitions.

Click here for the complete article and photos.

ROCKFORD — Mary Rivera is hoping to make a dream she once had a reality.

In the dream, she was leading a successful factory that mass-produced her late parents’ tasty barbecue-esque dipping sauce for the world to enjoy.

“When you first eat you don’t get that tang until it hits your tongue palate good,” said Rivera, a great-grandmother in her 50s from Rockford.

Rivera is pitching the family secret recipe — James and Edna May’s Famous Old School Barbecue/Everything Sauce — during Northern Illinois University EIGERlab’s 11th annual FastPitch Competition, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Oct. 4 at NIU Rockford and Conference Center, 8500 E. State St.

“I’m taking it on where they left off with their recipe,” Rivers said, “bringing it out so their memory lives on forever.”

FastPitch, which is in its 11th year, invites innovators, entrepreneurs, startup companies, and high school and college students to pitch their products, services, apps or ideas to a panel of judges — and by extension, the region and a community of fellow business-minded go-getters.

Click here for the complete article and photos.