|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2025
Montana’s Top Teen Entrepreneurs Crowned at 2025 Prospects
Grand Champion Pitch Competition
Montana Chamber Foundation Awards $15,000 in Cash and Scholarships to Montana Students
Bozeman, MT – The Montana Chamber Foundation proudly named the 2025 Grand Champion and Runner-Up of The Prospects, Montana’s premier youth entrepreneurship competition, following a live pitch showdown on May 19 at Montana State University’s Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship.
This culminating event brought together the first- and second-place winners from the high school categories—New Business, Existing Business, and President’s Hustle—for a chance to compete for the coveted Grand Champion title and an additional $15,000 in cash prizes.
EXISTING BUSINESS: Grand Champion – $5,000 Prize
Good Detailing
Tully Good, Sealy-Swan High School
An existing business offering professional auto detailing services, Good Detailing wowed the judges with its impressive growth strategy, polished branding, and plans for expansion—proving that hustle and execution are a winning combination.
2nd Place - $2,500 Prize
Limith
Ezra Hellem, Dawson Schreck, Levi Maisel & Wyatt Dry – Hellgate High School, Missoula
A lifestyle influencer apparel brand that blends streetwear fashion with Gen Z culture, Limith is already building a social following and carving out a niche in youth branding.
NEW BUSINESS: Grand Champion - $5,000 Prize
Coping Companions
Alexys Reule & Rylee Caldwell, Billings Career Center
This dynamic duo presented a thoughtful new business idea that addresses mental wellness in youth, combining creativity and compassion in a compelling, scalable concept.
2nd Place - $2,500 Prize
Magna Grip
Asher Barnes & Murray Lane - Hellgate High School, Missoula
Creators of a magnetic bucket attachment for ladders, Magna Grip offers a Made-in-Montana solution for contractors and handymen at a time when foreign-made alternatives—especially those manufactured in Mexico—are becoming more costly due to tariffs.
“These students embody everything The Prospects stands for: grit, vision, and the courage to bring ideas to life,” said Todd O’Hair, Executive Director of the Montana Chamber Foundation. “Their presentations were outstanding, and their potential as future Montana business leaders is limitless.”
Celebrating the Future of Montana’s Economy
The final pitch event, emceed by James Easton and Tiana Yates, Montana Chamber Foundation Workforce Development Specialists featured remarks from Brian Gillespie, Dean of the Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship who provided a $1,000 scholarship to any student who chooses to attend Montana State University, and Trevor Huffmaster of the Blackstone LaunchPad. A panel of judges from across Montana’s business community provided live feedback and selected the winners.
“This next generation of entrepreneurs isn’t waiting for opportunity—they’re creating it,” said Paul Hopfauf, Chair of the Montana Chamber Foundation. “Each of these students should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Now in its fifth year, The Prospects received 259 submissions from middle and high school students across Montana, awarding $40,000 in prizes and scholarships in a virtual awards presentation on April 24. This year’s program would not be possible without the generous support of Lead Sponsors Stockman Bank and Two Bear Capital, along with Foundational Sponsors BlueCross BlueShield of Montana and Empowered.
#
About the Montana Chamber Foundation
The Montana Chamber Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Montana Chamber of Commerce to fund business education and encourage entrepreneurship among Montana K–12 and undergraduate students, participate in research projects, host events that promote economic development opportunities, and administer funds that support workforce readiness and entrepreneurship programs in the Treasure State.
The Foundation maintains direct relationships with members of the Montana University System, Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), individual teachers and public school districts, Career and Technical Student Organizations (CSTO), and other nonprofits supporting student education.
For more information, visit: www.montanachamber.com/montana-chamber-foundation/
| 
