Business Competition

Program awards can be used for consulting, technical assistance, and long-term capital expenditures. One of the two awards will be designated for a STEM- and/or TEK-related business. 

Competition History

For 12 years, more than 458 businesses and start-ups in 23 Southeast Alaska communities applied to the Path to Prosperity Business Competition, an annual business development competition for businesses with a positive economic, environmental and community impact on Southeast Alaska. The program trained 168 entrepreneurs and awarded 26 winners a total of $760,000 to build their local businesses.

In 2025, we will be partnering with Alaska Growth Capital (AGC), a Native-led Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Anchorage, in supporting entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth across Alaska. Since 2019, we’ve been honored to see AGC align its Marketplace programming with our Path to Prosperity (P2P) model, reflecting a shared commitment to uplifting local businesses. Our partnership deepened in 2023, as we began working more closely with AGC to help administer and refine the Marketplace program. It’s been a privilege to contribute our experience in business development, mentorship, and sustainable economic growth to AGC’s efforts to expand opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

This year, we’re especially excited to see our 12 P2P finalists join AGC’s Marketplace finalists in Anchorage for Entrepreneur Camp — a unique opportunity for collaborative learning and connection. Bringing these talented entrepreneurs together creates an incredible environment to share knowledge, build relationships, and strengthen networks across the state.

Rules and Regulations

 

Who should apply? 

This year’s competition cycle is open to Alaska Native individuals who reside in Southeast Alaska and are building businesses that intend to have a positive social, ecological and economic impact on their communities. 

Entries can be for a new business or an expansion of a current business. Additionally, this year’s program introduces a STEM/TEK Track, providing specialized support for businesses in science, technology, engineering, and math-related (STEM) industries and/or using traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). While STEM/TEK-related businesses are encouraged to apply, the competition is open to all industries. 

Southeast Alaska offers many opportunities for STEM- and TEK-related businesses. Examples could include: businesses based on traditional plant teachings, natural resource management using LiDAR technology, tidal energy products designed for rural communities, heat pump installation, fishing fleet electrification, and more.

Businesses must be located and operate primarily in Southeast Alaska and owners must be residents of Southeast Alaska. We especially encourage participation from smaller communities in Southeast Alaska.

Please reach out to us if you have additional questions about eligibility.

For the complete 2025 competition rules and regulations, click here.

Many of our other workshops including Business Basics, Master Class, and Financial Wellness remain open to all residents of Southeast Alaska. Check out our upcoming opportunities on our homepage.

---

---

This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law.

Why the path to prosperity program and competition? 

The Spruce Root Path to Prosperity Business Competition aims to support business ideas in Southeast Alaska that will increase local employment, have a positive social and economic impact on their communities, and promote sustainable use of local resources. Path to Prosperity programs will also increase entrepreneurial skills and business leadership in Southeast Alaska.

When is the application due?

Applications open April 1, 2025, and are due by 11:59 p.m. May 31, 2025.

Who is eligible? 

This year’s competition cycle is open to businesses based in Southeast Alaska that intend to have a positive social, ecological and economic impact on their communities. Entries can be for a new business startup, diversification of an existing business, or extension of a current business activity. This year’s competition cycle is only open to Alaska Native individuals. Entries can be for a new business or an expansion of a current business. The primary applicant for the business must be Alaska Native and the business must have 51% or more Alaska Native ownership. The primary applicant must plan to attend Entrepreneur Camp.

Please reach out to us if you have additional questions about eligibility.

Yes, we are happy to provide assistance and feedback for crafting a competitive application. If you would like support filling out this application, please reach out to our team no later than May 28th, at the link here.

Business ideas may include a new business or an expansion of an existing business. Note that 501(c)3 nonprofits are not eligible. Applicants must be Southeast Alaska residents.

We especially encourage participation from entrepreneurs residing in smaller communities in Southeast Alaska.

What do finalists and winners receive?

Twelve finalists will attend our Business intensive in-person training in Anchorage from September 29 to October 2nd, where they will receive technical assistance in writing a business plan and work with a variety of business specialists and service providers. Two businesses will then be selected as winners, and each will receive an award of up to $20,000. Awards can be used for any expense that will increase the entrepreneur’s capacity to run the business and/or grow the business in the medium to long term, but may not be used for debt or immediate operational expenses (i.e. payroll, rent, etc.).

What do you mean by STEM and TEK?

We are partnering with Launch Alaska and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) to provide specialty programming for entrepreneurs who have businesses related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and/or Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) at our Entrepreneur Camp training in Anchorage. 

Southeast Alaska offers many opportunities for STEM businesses. Examples include: 8(a) contracting for small and Indigenous-owned enterprises, natural resource management using LiDAR technology, tidal energy products designed for rural communities, heat pump installation, fishing fleet electrification, and more.

This programming will be offered as an optional track to entrepreneurs that self-identify as having a business in one of these focus areas. Entrepreneurs who do not have STEM- or TEK-related businesses are eligible to apply and participate in the competition. 

Why is the Path to Prosperity Business Competition focusing Alaska Native-owned Businesses?

The focus on Alaska Native entrepreneurs aligns with our commitment to fostering economic growth and cultural resilience within Southeast Alaska’s Indigenous communities. By centering the competition on Alaska Native people, we aim to:

• Support entrepreneurship within Indigenous communities.
• Empower businesses that reflect and sustain Native culture, values, and traditional knowledge.
• Provide resources and opportunities tailored to the unique strengths and needs of Shareholder entrepreneurs.

Our other workshops including Business Basics, Master Class, and Financial Wellness remain open to all residents of Southeast Alaska. Check out our upcoming opportunities on our homepage.

Yes, we are happy to provide assistance and feedback for crafting a competitive application. If you would like support filling out this application, please reach out to our team no later than May 28th, at the link here.

Can I receive assistance with my application?  

Yes, we are happy to provide assistance and feedback for crafting a competitive application. If you would like support filling out this application, please reach out to our team no later than May 28th, at the link here.

Rules and Regulations

---

To find out more and ask any questions, contact us. You’ll find our contact information in the footer of this website.

This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law.

2024

Raven’s Nest Regalia and Arts, Petersburg, owned by Dzijúksuk Debra O’Gara, creates Northwest Coast and Tlingit art that can be worn as regalia or displayed in your homes. Dzijúksuk specializes in Ravenstail, Chilkat and cedar bark weavings and regalia; dancing button robes and vests; and is available for small classes in weaving, sewing and beading various regalia items.

Sitkana, Juneau, owned by Lance McMullan, is a manufacturing company producing hydrokinetic energy devices that act like underwater wind turbines; they create electricity when they spin in the flowing water. These devices will help the people of Southeast Alaska transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.

2023

Four Winds Farm, Haines, owned by Sally Boisvert, grows, washes, packs and delivers fresh, naturally-grown produce within their local area including Haines, Mosquito Lake and Klukwan, Alaska. Development of the farmland began in 2009 from second-growth forest in the Moose Valley near Mosquito Lake, with produce sales beginning in 2013. Each year the farm has expanded to meet more of the demand for fresh produce in the upper Lynn Canal. With a Path to Prosperity Business Competition Award, the farm will develop a plastic-free plant nursery and expand its vegetable production area to grow more produce.

Muskeg Munchkins Baby Boutique, Juneau, owned by Holly Adams, is a start-up that will offer a centrally located retail store featuring a diverse range of locally made, sustainable and organic baby, maternity and breastfeeding products. As a solution to the limited availability and scattered distribution of such items in Juneau, the store aims to provide a convenient one-stop-shop for parents, eliminating the need to search all over town or having to wait weeks for essential items in the mail. Muskeg Munchkins also will run an online store, allowing them to provide products to neighboring communities with limited resources for babies and parents.

Adventure Harvest, Haines, owned by Tawny Darling and Robert Chadwell, is inspired by love for their town and surrounding wilderness, and hand harvests and uses local ingredients to make unique spice mixes, sauces, syrups, jellies and more. When Adventure Harvest began their business, they sold our products at the farmers market with hand-written labels tied on the bottles with ribbons. They are very proud of how our business and our products have evolved. With Spruce Root, they will continue learning and growing as a business and as individuals. They could not be more excited for this award and the opportunities it opens up for them.

2022

Costa Brava, Bakery & Pâtisserie, is a high-end pastry shop specializing in custom wedding cakes, celebration cakes, and pastries that draw inspiration from Spanish and French cuisine, culture, and aesthetics. It is owned and operated by Rebecca Kameika (kah-MAY-kah) who moved to Haines in 2019 and founded the bakery in the summer of 2020, driven by a lifelong passion for baking. The bakery brings artistic expression and creativity into the kitchen to create unique and sophisticated designs and flavors like no other in remote, small-town Alaska.

New Earth Fungi, owned by Alannah (ah-LAW-nah) Johnson, is a small Gourmet and Medicinal Mushroom Farm located in Juneau, Alaska. Their products include locally cultivated mushrooms that are offered fresh, dried, or in medicinal tonics. Not only are their fresh mushrooms offered at grocery stores in town, but they are also sold to local restaurants, where visitors get to enjoy them and have the chance to purchase dried mushrooms or tonics to take home with them. New Earth Fungi also offers local mushroom foraging tours and cultivation workshops where locals and visitors alike can learn about the rich mycological ecosystems of Juneau.

2021

Kasaan, Arts, Museum and Canoes, run by Bonnie and Stormy Hamar, provides immersive cultural tours that give visitors a glimpse into the rich Haida culture of Kasaan. Visitors can watch Haida carver Stormy craft a traditional cedar canoe, browse the gift shop for locally made art, and gaze at the treasures held in the museum. Bonnie serves as the curator of the museum and has filled its walls with everything from ancient artifacts to modern regalia, including stone tools, woven cedar hats, dance robes, objects from Kasaan’s cannery and mining days, and even Stormy’s first childhood canoe models.

Fishability is a Ketchikan-based startup that will offer on-the-water excursions to people with disabilities and their families, friends, or care providers aboard a custom-built vessel designed with universal access in mind. Owner Jack Finnegan will serve as the compassionate captain at the helm, bringing his extensive experience in working with individuals of all ages with a wide range of disabilities. Fishability is founded on the notion of providing respect along with the opportunity to experience the distinct thrills, joys, and beauty that are unique to the waterways of Ketchikan.

2020

Kaasei Training and Consulting works to revitalize traditional knowledge of Indigenous plants and foods by holding workshops and trainings that encourage participants to deepen their connections to self, community, and the environment. Kaasei is run by Naomi Michalsen, a Tlingit chef and grandmother who is based in Ketchikan. Kaasei’s harvesting, preserving and cooking workshops help participants further their understanding of their beautiful surroundings, increase appreciation for the deep cultural history of the Indigenous people of Alaska, and gain knowledge of harvesting ethically and respectfully.

Coastal Heating and Repair is a start-up business owned by Jimmi and Starr Jensen that will provide the community of Yakutat with heating and plumbing services, giving residents the opportunity to have cleaner, safer, and more energy efficient homes. Jimmi, who is Inupiaq, has over ten years of experience as a heating technician and has provided this service to residents of Yakutat for several years as a “side job.” Starr, who is Tlingit and Koyukon Athabascan, will support the finance and scheduling side of the business. Jimmi and Starr are thrilled to be able to do this work full time as a means to support their family and hometown of Yakutat.

2019

Foundroot is an open-pollinated seed company run by Leah Wagner and Nick Schlosstein in Haines that sells vegetable, herb, and flower seeds proven for Alaskan growing conditions. On their small sustainable farm in Haines, Foundroot is growing seed varieties that are adapted to Alaska’s climatic challenges and have sent seeds to over 65 different communities throughout the state. Teaching their customers how to save their own seeds and supporting their gardening and farming endeavors is integral to the company’s philosophy. Foundroot’s mission is for all Alaskans to feel confident growing food, no matter the scale, and fostering self-reliance and a deeper sense of food security for us all.

Village Coffee Company is a drive-thru espresso shop in Yakutat run by Justyne Wheeler that serves custom coffee drinks and homemade pastries crafted from locally-sourced ingredients, including fresh salmonberry upside down cake and spruce tip tea. In the small community of Yakutat, Village Coffee Company has found itself serving many regulars, who oftentimes drive up in 4x4s or forklifts to get their daily cup. Village Coffee Company works closely with the community to be as environmentally sustainable as possible. They provide coffee grinds for composting; use compostable stir-sticks, cups, and packaging; and source locally when possible.

2018

Mud Bay Lumber Company is a family-based small-scale sawmill focused on community collaboration, environmental integrity, and self-reliance. Nestled in the rainforests of Haines, Alaska, they manufacture and sell local hand-picked, quality trees in the form of rough cut boards, slabs, and other added-value wood products. They promote the responsible use of natural resources through a zero log-waste goal, operating within the limits of the State Forest Management Plan, and by using each tree to its opportune use. By making local timber products accessible and affordable to the Haines community, Mud Bay Lumber Company is also helping to eliminate the fuel and plastic packaging used in long-distance transportation of lumber. They are invested in making local resources accessible and affordable to their community and growing the Haines timber industry into a stable part of the economy.

Juneau Composts performs natural alchemy, packages it, and resells it, all while reducing the noxious waste in our landfill.  They take your kitchen scraps, cook them with thermophilic microorganisms and turn them into rich soil ready for the garden. So far they have diverted more than 111,900 lbs of material from the landfill, turning it into earthy-smelling goodness. They also provide compost education and technical support. They are currently the only composting service available in Juneau and they serve households and businesses of all kinds.

2017

Mighty Bear Roots is an aeroponic greenhouse start-up that will provide the community of Wrangell with a local source of fresh healthy produce.  The clean and green operation will utilize energy efficient full spectrum LED lighting, solar panels, rain catch and ground-to-air heat transfer systems to reduce its ecological footprint while growing delicious, healthy food that doesn’t need to be barged in. Mighty Bear Roots: pioneering ‘Solar to Stomach’ farming in Southeast Alaska.

Alaska Apple Farms supplies fruit trees, tree maintenance and support services, and fresh, locally grown apples to and Southeast Alaska.  After years of experimenting with local and disease resistant rootstocks, Game Creek Family Orchards has developed a reputation for producing apple trees uniquely crafted to thrive in Southeast Alaska. The orchard will market local apples that have a flavor and texture far superior to those generally available in local supermarkets.

2016

Skyaana Coffee Co (Klawock) is a local coffee roaster that celebrates tradition and heritage, offering a variety of blends and single origin coffee beans.

Barnacle Foods (Juneau) uses hand-harvested kelp and other Alaskan ingredients to bring unique flavors from the wilds of Alaska’s coast to your kitchen in the form of salsas, spices, and goods for Southeast and beyond.

2015

The Salty Pantry (Petersburg) is a coffee shop providing gourmet salts, artisan foods, baked goods.

Sawmill Farm (Sitka) brought commercial agriculture to Sitka, supporting Sitkans who maintained their own backyard operations.

2014

Port Chilkoot Distillery (Haines) offers gin, bourbon, rye whiskey, moonshine, vodka, and absinthe; their tasting room features a specialty cocktail menu, gifts, and taste samples.

Fairweather Ski Works (Haines) handcrafts skis and snowboards out of locally harvested Sitka Spruce and birch beneath the impressive peaks of Haines, Alaska.

2013

Coppa (Juneau) won the 2014 People’s Choice Award. Coppa is a gourmet coffee shop that offers hand-crafted ice cream (often from locally harvested ingredients), coffee, tea, baked goods, and lunch.

 Icy Straits Lumber (Hoonah) is a family owned sawmill that is committed to creating high quality lumber and other wood products for sale in Southeast Alaska.

Raven Guitars (Wrangell) crafts guitars from locally-sourced woods.

---

This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law.

Competition Details

The 2025 Path to Prosperity Business Competition is open to Alaska Native individuals residing in Southeast Alaska. Entries can be for a new business or an expansion of a current business. It can be a product, service, or social venture. Business ideas, start-ups, and existing businesses are all encouraged to apply.

Entries can be for a new business startup, diversification of an existing business, or extension of a current business activity. Businesses must be located and operate primarily in Southeast Alaska and owners must be residents of Southeast Alaska. We especially encourage participation from smaller communities in Southeast Alaska.

Additionally, this year’s program introduces a STEM/TEK Track, providing specialized support for businesses in science, technology, engineering, and math-related (STEM) industries and/or using traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). 

Business ideas will be judged primarily on the basis of their triple bottom line viability, or their ability to generate a profit, have a positive impact in their community, and be mindful and regenerative in their environmental impacts.

To enter the competition, participants must agree to the rules and regulations.

Rules and Regulations

Program Summary

Each competition cycle consists of two rounds:

Round 1

Apply to Compete

The Business Concept Application is due by 11:59 PM AKDT May 31, 2025. Applications sent in the mail must be postmarked no later than May 31. No late submissions will be accepted. There are absolutely no exceptions. 

The competition administrator will first screen each submitted registration form for completeness and eligibility. Judges will then score the applications in order to determine the top-scoring entries that advance to Round 2. Round 1 is judged by the Competition Committee, consisting of representatives from three different organizations.

Twelve entries will be selected to advance to Round 2. In order to ensure representation from around the region, a maximum of two finalists from each community will be allowed to compete in Round 2. To ensure the quality of the business plans developed in the final round, the organizers reserve the right to select fewer entries if the submissions do not meet judges’ quality standards of receiving a minimum of 80 points out of a possible 170 points from each judge during the scoring process.

Round 2

Business Entrepreneur Camp

Participants advancing to Round 2 will be required to attend the Business Entrepreneur Camp (formerly Boot Camp). Travel, meals, and lodging during the entrepreneur camp will be provided. Business Entrepreneur Camp will provide workshops and opportunities for networking. Contest finalists will receive in-depth support and guidance for business development and business plan writing from business mentors. In order to be considered for the award, finalists must submit a complete business plan.

There is no required format for the submitted business plans, however, a business plan template will be provided. Business plans should be 30 pages or less, excluding the financial model. Judges are not required to read anything past 30 pages. Round 2 participants will receive the business plan template, scoring criteria and detailed information for business plan entry requirements at the entrepreneur camp. 

Round 2 submissions are required to contain a list of itemized expenses with price quotes for the planned P2P award use. Plans that do not include an itemized list of expenses will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible to win the competition.

All electronic submissions must be attached to an email and should include a maximum of two documents: one PDF version of the business plan and one PDF, Excel, or Google Sheets version of the financial model. Files should be saved according to the business name (example: businessname.pdf). All business plans must be submitted by 11:59 PM AKDT on December 10, 2025. There are no exceptions. Entries can also be mailed.

An independent panel of judges will score entries for Round 2 and will select two winners. One winner must be a rural entry (not from Juneau, Ketchikan, or Sitka), and the second winner will be from the remaining businesses plans.

Award Funds

The two winning business plans from Round 2 will receive up to $20,000 to grow their business. One of the two awards will be designated for STEM- and/or TEK-related businesses. Awards can be used for any expense that will increase the entrepreneur’s capacity to run the business and/or grow the business in the medium to long-term, but may not be used for debt or immediate operational expenses (e.g. payroll, rent, etc.). The award request must be provided in the Round 2 Business Plan. All expenses are subject to the program administrator review. Spruce Root will pay award expenditures directly to the vendor.

---

This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law.