Rio Salado Announces Spring 2026 Small Business Pitch Winners

Rio Salado’s 2026 Spring Small Business Pitch winners are running organizations that help neurodivergent individuals with translation during medical visits, create cotton candy vending machines, help young people start their own companies and develop beauty and fragrance products.

The bi-annual Small Business Pitch contest is designed for all Rio student entrepreneurs interested in starting a small business or who may already have one and want to see it grow. Applicants submit videos that pitch their business, share what they offer the community, and describe how they would spend their award money.

The Spring Small Business Pitch @ Rio was made possible by a NACCE Everyday Entrepreneur grant.

This year's competition was a tight one that required a tie-breaking judge to step in! We are really excited to introduce our winners. Each description comes from their entries.

Elevating Bilingual Services in the Medical Realm

First Place – Diane Ramirez – Heritage & Heart, LLC ($2,000):

Heritage & Heart LLC is an autism-specialized medical interpretation consultancy providing bilingual (English/Spanish) services tailored to neurodivergent patients in high-stress medical settings. Unlike general translation services, it specializes in sensory-friendly communication, using pre-appointment sensory profiles to anticipate and manage environmental triggers such as lighting and noise. We accurately interpret diverse communication styles, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and echolalia, to ensure patients are understood and supported. Our mission is to bridge the neurological and linguistic gap in healthcare, promoting both patient safety and ADA compliance.

Bringing Sweet Treats Around the Valley

Second Place – Zakry Wilstead – Cotton Candy Blossoms ($1,250):

Cotton Candy Blossoms provides high-quality, automated cotton candy vending machines that deliver fun, delicious treats to children, families, and visitors in high-traffic locations. Cotton Candy Blossoms currently operates three machines, two in shopping malls and one in a popular arcade, and has a fourth ready to deploy once funding is secured. We offer 14 unique cotton candy designs, including flowers, butterflies, and hearts, creating visually appealing and memorable treats. Our service combines convenience, entertainment, and quality, allowing families and kids to enjoy cotton candy without waiting in line.

Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Third Place – Katie Daily – Startup Club ($750):

Startup Club is a fun, faith-based extracurricular program that guides students through launching of their own businesses. Over six weeks, students complete a virtual curriculum made up of engaging video lessons and practical assignments. The program culminates in a children’s market, where students showcase their businesses and invite friends, family, and community members to shop and support them.

Adding Beauty to Everyday Routine

Honorable Mention – Samantha Crudup – Semooria Beauty ($250):

Semooria Beauty is a luxury self-care and fragrance brand dedicated to creating high‑quality, intentional products that elevate everyday routines. It offers handcrafted body care, fragrances, and wellness essentials designed with a bold, feminine, luxury‑minimal aesthetic. Semooria Beauty is built to inspire women to feel powerful, cared for, and seen in their daily lives.

Spring Small Business Pitch Evaluation Process

Submissions were evaluated on the strength of the opening, the clarity of the problem and solution, the identification of the target market, the explanation of the sales model, the understanding of the competition, the use of funds, and overall business viability. We extend a big thank you to our wonderful panel of judges: Shaniqua Hopkins, Rio Entrepreneur of the Year 2025; Miguel Martinez, Lead Faculty, Risk Management and Insurance; Dr. Aaron Coe, Associate Dean, Strategy & Academic Affairs; Nicole Brown, Adjunct Faculty, Risk Management and Insurance; and Beth Siwek, Faculty Chair, Health Sciences.