Kavana Bees won the Momentum 5x5 Business Pitch Competition on Tuesday following presentations by five finalists. Epworth provided the $5,000 prize to the winner as a way to give back to the community and encourage business growth.

Certified holistic nutritionist and beekeeper, Candace Casados, explained that her business will sell healthy, thriving young colonies to local beekeepers, provide pollination services to small-scale local farms and orchards, and create value-added health and body care products from what bees produce naturally (wax, propolis and honey). Ultimately, Casados said she will use every aspect of beekeeping and what the bees create for the benefit of people in the community in need of natural products and services.   

The prize money will ensure that Kavana Bees will have adequate funds to purchase containers, packaging, and marketing materials necessary to meet the demand of projected fall 2024/spring 2025 sales, Casados said.

Other finalists in the competition were HarborFit Studio, Nectar Juice Co., Sudzy Shindigz, and Traveling Sage LLC. Each contender had five minutes to pitch a new business idea and/or tell how they would use the prize money at their business.

In addition to a cash prize, Kavana Bees will receive in-kind gifts from Epworth, including advertising and business representation at events.

The Momentum 5x5 Pitch Competition is an annual event administered by the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, held in partnership with Epworth Heights, a private, seasonal resort along Lake Michigan.

 As the Momentum 5x5 winner, Kavana Bees will now be in the Top 10 for the 2025 Momentum Business Plan Competition, coming next spring.