Congratulations to Austin Fast Start Consumer Packaged Goods Pitch Winner – Basic B Chai!
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Young Chamber, in partnership with the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, congratulates Basic B Chai, winner of the Austin Fast Start pitch competition that took place in-person on Monday, May 9th at Capital Factory.
Basic B Chai is an Austin-based, women-owned beverage company that produces and sells high-quality, small-batch beverages to coffee shops, groceries, and direct to consumers.
“Austin Fast Start was a phenomenal opportunity to test my young beverage business on a crowd of CPG experts. Building community is at the heart of Basic B Chai and receiving this kind of validation from leaders and peers in my community is both invigorating and empowering. The resources from this competition will play a critical role in helping Basic B Chai grow into a widely-available fan-favorite beverage and I’m so excited to see what happens as we expand,” says Anna Claire Eddington, Founder and Brewer of Basic B Chai.
The Austin Fast Start pitch competition fosters the spirit of innovation within Austin by highlighting early stage startups in various economic development priorities. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) are items used daily by consumers that require routine replacement or replenishment. Products may be food, beverage, apparel, jewelry, toys, tools, or anything you could imagine being sold at your favorite brick-and-mortar or online retailer. This cycle’s topic encompassed a broad range of products in the Austin ecosystem.
“Austin Fast Start’s pitch competition provides a unique opportunity for businesses to elevate themselves through connections, awareness, and funding,” said Susana Carbajal, Assistant Director of the Economic Development Department. “We are proud to partner with the Austin Young Chamber to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative business ideas.”
Congratulations to the Consumer Packaged Goods Finalists:
The 2022 Austin Fast Start Pitch Competition will continue with two more strategic priorities: Creatives and Cleantech. Applications for the Creatives and Cleantech categories are currently open. Businesses applying for the Austin Fast Start must be: (1) headquartered within Austin city limits, (2) in the pre-seed/early revenue stage, and (3) less than two years old. Applications for Creatives will close at 11:59pm on Monday, June 13 and applications for Cleantech will close at 11:59pm on Monday, August 8. Learn more and apply here.
About the City of Austin Economic Development Department
The City of Austin Economic Development Department supports business growth, creative industries, and local communities. These programs build an equitable, sustainable economy to improve the lives of all Austin residents. To learn more about helpful resources, visit www.austintexas.gov/edd and follow @AustinEconDev on Twitter.
About the Austin Young Chamber
The Austin Young Chamber promotes the general economic interests of the Central Texas business community through initiatives and efforts designed to build and strengthen our young professional workforce. Connect with the Austin Young Chamber on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or check out upcoming programs at austinyc.org.
