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The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE is pleased to announce the winners of its 13th Annual Metro East Startup Challenge. The 2026 business plan competition drew 50 entrepreneurs competing for a share of a $28,000 prize package. This represents an increase of approximately 25% compared with entry totals in recent years.

BaaBaa Girls Wool Pelletizing of Waterloo, Illinois, received the $10,000 first-place prize. Co-owners Amy Halleran and Leanna Stechmesser, along with their daughters, laid the foundation for the business in June 2025. The company transforms low-value wool into biodegradable pellets that enhance soil health, improve water retention and reduce agricultural waste.

Nana’s Hometown Sweets and Eats of Jerseyville, Illinois, took home the $6,000 second-place prize. Founder Josh Chappell opened the locally owned business in July 2025 with his mother, Janet Chappell—the “Nana” behind its name. The family-friendly, quick-service shop offers frozen treats, sweets, and premium hot dogs in a nostalgic hometown atmosphere.

Prairie Star Acupuncture of Hamel, Illinois, took home the $4,000 third place prize. Debra Kraner, DACM, envisioned a community-style clinic offering accessible, sliding-scale wellness education and care in a welcoming setting and with that Prairie Star Acupuncture was born in November 2025.

K Bright by Kifah of O’Fallon, Illinois took home the 4th prize thanks to the generosity of Regions Bank.    Founded in the Fall of 2025, K Bright creates handcrafted seasoning blends and specialty food products that make cooking simple, flavorful, and enjoyable for busy families.

“We are impressed and humbled by both the number and exceptional quality of the concepts presented by this year’s participants,” said Jo Ann DiMaggio May, director of the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE. “The strength of the submissions made the evaluation process and final prize decisions extremely difficult for our reviewers and judges.”

The winners will also receive in-kind support from Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Attorney Carol Sparks, Beckemeier LeMoine Law of Troy, and accounting services from KEB of Edwardsville, to help form their businesses, navigate legal issues and manage start-up expenses. Other in-kind services include website design assistance from Codd Interactive, of Edwardsville, cybersecurity/IT services from Belleville’s Global Enterprise Services, and co-working space for a set period of time at The Lodge in Edwardsville.

For the sixth year, the competition was open to Fayette and Montgomery Counties. Macoupin County was added in 2023. Four additional prizes were also awarded in the following categories: MESC 2026 Woman, Minority, Veteran and Rural Business of the Year, all in the amount of $1,500. These prizes were funded by Bank of Springfield, Justine Petersen, the City of O’Fallon, and Dietrich Bank, respectively.

Belleville native and registered nurse, Carla Stanley, founder of Hydration Concierge Mobile IV Therapy LLC, was awarded the Woman Owned Business of the Year Prize. Julia Skrabacz of The Embroidered Rose of O’Fallon took home the Veteran Owned Business of the Year Prize, Catina Gates, founder of KMAC DEVELOPMENT LLC, was awarded the Minority Business of the Year Prize, and Mackenzie Counts with Belly Up Dog Training located in Troy was awarded the Rural Business of the Year prize.

The top four teams had the opportunity to present their winning business concepts before Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois board of directors meeting on Friday, Nov. 6. LCSWIL includes more than 150 leaders in business, industry, education, government and labor in southwestern Illinois.

May and the SBDC team are elated with the overall participation in the Challenge and the effort the applicants put into their business ideas and presentations, and they look forward to continued community involvement for next year’s Challenge as the MESC celebrates 14 years.

“Our goal is to continue to increase the awareness and reach of the Start-up Challenge’s vast opportunities,” May said, “the Challenge is becoming a recognized fixture in the region’s entrepreneurial community, and the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE looks forward to its continued growth and success.”

The IL SBDC for the Metro East organizes and manages the competition with the support of the SIUE School of Business, as well as from other business and economic development partners throughout its nine plus-county service area.

The Finalists in the 2026 MESC also included:

• Alongside — Mental Health & Recovery Concierge (Brighton, Ill.), a private-pay concierge advocacy service helping families navigate mental health, substance use, and recovery systems
• CyberGrade AI (Swansea, Ill.) turns weeks of consulting into a 60-second, threat-weighted cyber readiness result.
• HuntLine IQ LLC (Albers, Ill.) is a privacy-first hunting intelligence platform that transforms anonymous hunter observations into actionable deer movement insights.
• Looped Boutique LLC (O’Fallon, Ill.), a curated resale boutique that will offer women an elevated secondhand shopping experience.

The Challenge is made possible through tremendous regional support. Sponsors include: The SIUE School of Business, the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Associated Bank, Greater St. Louis Inc., Growth Corp, Anders CPA & Advisors, Regions Bank, the City of O’Fallon Illinois, Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program, the City of Edwardsville,  Carrollton Bank, St. Clair County Economic Development, FCB Banks, Monroe County Economic Development Corporation, First National Bank of Waterloo and the City of Alton.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE and East St. Louis assists start-up ventures like these, as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine plus-county region of southwestern Illinois, including Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe, and Randolph counties. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE, as a service to Illinois small businesses.

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. The SBDC enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of advising, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

To learn more about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at 618-650-2929.

PHOTO:  (left to right) Dr. Debra Kraner-Prairie Star Acupuncture; Josh Chappell, Nana (Janet) Chappell-Nana's Hometown Sweets and Eats; Amy Halleran, Leanna Stechmesser with daughters Kaleigh and Gracie -BaaBaa Girls Wool Pelletizing; Kifah Mohammad and daughter Meera-K Bright by Kifah