Wilkes Community College Client Advances to Statewide Finals, Public Voting Now Open
Wilkesboro, N.C. – A client of the Wilkes Community College (WCC) Small Business Center has advanced to the finals of the inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown, powered by the Wells Fargo Foundation — North Carolina’s first statewide entrepreneurship competition, hosted through the NC Community College System’s Small Business Center Network (SBCN). The competition drew 316 applicants from across the state, narrowed through a competitive, multi-stage review process that included regional panels and more than 1,050 hours of pre-application business counseling delivered through local Small Business Centers statewide, down to just 17 finalists.
Victoria Gadbois, founder of Victorious Wellness, is representing the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center and the northwest North Carolina region in the competition. Victoria’s concept is a state-of-the-art, holistic women’s wellness center designed to meet women’s health needs.
On August 8, Victoria Gadbois delivered her pitch in person at the competition’s statewide Pitch Day in the Triangle area, appearing before a panel of “Business Trailblazers” judges representing entrepreneurship, finance, innovation, and economic development from across North Carolina. Her pitch, along with those of the other finalists, was professionally recorded and will be available for public voting.
From Sept. 1-15, North Carolinians can help spotlight these founders by viewing their business pitches and participating in public voting measured through “likes” on finalists’ professionally produced pitch videos (posted to the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s YouTube channel). This tally will contribute to each entrepreneur’s final score, along with evaluations from a distinguished panel of judges. Winners will be announced at an invitation-only awards reception in Raleigh on Sept. 17.
Made possible through a funding partnership with the Wells Fargo Foundation, the Startup Showdown is a collaborative effort of the North Carolina Community College System, the Small Business Center Network and the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation. The program was created to identify high-potential entrepreneurs, provide high-quality business education and connect founders with the mentorship, resources and visibility needed to transform innovative ideas into successful businesses. The inaugural cohort represents a cross-section of the state’s entrepreneurial talent, with ventures spanning technology, advanced manufacturing, childcare, commercial and consumer products, health and wellness, and entertainment. The ceremony will award a total of $60,000 in unrestricted startup funding: $30,000 for first place, $20,000 for second, and $10,000 for third. Each placing winner also receives up to $1,000 toward a local Chamber of Commerce membership.
“We could not be prouder of Victoria and everything she has accomplished to reach this stage,” said Laurie Brintle-Jarvis, Director of the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center. “From our very first meeting, her vision for a women’s wellness center stood out for its depth and heart, and she has put in months of hard work refining that vision into a real, fundable business. Being chosen as one of only 17 finalists out of more than 300 applicants statewide is a tremendous achievement, and we are so excited that she has chosen Wilkes as the home for this business. Now we’re asking our whole community to get behind her and vote.”
“Reaching this stage of the Startup Showdown feels incredibly significant to me because this competition has challenged me to take something that lived in my heart and turn it into a real, thoughtful plan. To have the vision recognized and to make it this far is emotional. It makes me feel that all of those late nights, difficult days, sacrifices and moments when I had to keep going even when life felt very heavy were leading somewhere,” said Victoria Gadbois, founder of Victorious Wellness.
Over the past several months, Victoria worked closely with WCC Small Business Center advisors and completed the REAL Entrepreneurship “Pitch It!” program, an eight-session training led by SBCN instructors that helped finalists sharpen their business plans, financial projections, and pitch presentations ahead of Pitch Day.
The Wilkes Community College Small Business Center is asking the community to support Victoria by watching her official pitch video on the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s YouTube channel and voting now through Sept. 15: youtube.com/@ncsmallbusinesscenternetwork
About the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center
The Wilkes Community College Small Business Center provides free, confidential counseling, training, and resources to help entrepreneurs in the Wilkes region start, grow, and strengthen their businesses. It is part of the North Carolina Small Business Center Network, which serves all 58 NC community colleges statewide. For more information, contact the WCC Small Business Center at 336-838-6166 or visit www.wilkescc.edu/sbc.
About the SBCN Startup Showdown
The SBCN Startup Showdown, powered by the Wells Fargo Foundation, is North Carolina’s first statewide entrepreneurship competition, presented by the NC Community College System’s Small Business Center Network in partnership with the NC Community Colleges Foundation. The program supports emerging entrepreneurs through structured training, mentorship, and startup funding, culminating in a statewide pitch showcase and awards ceremony. More information is available at www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/sbcnstartupshowdown.
About Wilkes Community College
Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC has a proud history of meeting the educational, cultural, and workforce needs of our community. As we look to the future, Wilkes Community College provides programs, resources, and services that create quality educational, economic development, and cultural opportunities. WCC aspires to be an effective, learner-centered institution and a dynamic learning organization, preparing students for success in a changing world.
