Bayou Region Incubator Pitch Night generated public enthusiasm, selling out four weeks in advance.

The Grand Prize winner of the Expansion round is Niki Norton with Southern Merch and Marketing. She received $10,000 as her prize. Norton expressed immense gratitude towards Bayou Region Incubator (BRI) for the opportunity.

“Southern Merch & Marketing is honored to have won first place at the 2025 Bayou Region Pitch Night, a celebration of local entrepreneurship and innovation,” Norton said. “I am so grateful for the support of the Bayou Region community and [I’m] excited to continue helping businesses grow and thrive through creative branded merchandise solutions.”

Rashad Rainey with Sunset Slush 985 won in the Idea Startup category and received the first place prize of $5,000.

10 contestants were chosen as finalists out of 32 total. Five competed in the Expansion category while the other half took part in the Idea Startup category.

Each of the finalists walked away with prize money along with a one-year BRI membership voucher.

Lisa Kliebert, executive director of BRI, shared her passion for the annual event and reflected on the collective community BRI has established.

“This event is a testament to the vibrant spirit and growing potential of our Bayou region, and we are thrilled to provide a platform for these dreams to take flight,” Kliebert said. “The Bayou Region Incubator has truly become a community and family of entrepreneurs helping each other launch.”

The Incubator created the Pitch Night with the purpose of expansion and curating innovation within the surrounding southern communities. The second annual Pitch Night event served as a force for positive economic change, and as hoped, Klibert said it showcased the hidden gems of “our” local community.

“The energy and innovation in our Bayou and River regions are truly inspiring. It’s incredible to witness and support the passion and dedication of our local entrepreneurs as they present their groundbreaking ideas,” Kliebert said.