Entrepreneur Bradley Will was awarded Project Pitch It’s top prize of $10,000 for his company Mumbies, a natural dog chew company offering non-toxic chew toys made with coffeewood and coconut to reduce plaque, alleviate stress and promote dental health in dogs.
Founded in 2023, Mumbies uses discarded branches and roots of coffee trees to make a variety of chews sold in different sizes and shapes including sticks and root clusters – both offered with the option to be strung on a coconut rope.
Coffeewood’s dense, splinter resistant nature makes it an ideal material for dog chews, Will said.
The company just reached over $1 million in sales with 28,000 direct-to-consumer customers. Mumbies sources its products from a partner company in Vietnam, while all fulfillment operations are handled in Franklin.
In addition to its coffeewood chews, the company sells bison liver treats and coconut husk toys sold as ropes, balls and rings. Its products retail between $8 and $22.
Mumbies was one of five recipients to receive $100,000 last October from Wisconsin-based accelerator gener8tor.
Mock & Co.
Entrepreneurs Cailin O’Connor and Firoz Khimani took home $4,500 for their company Mock & Co., a nonalcoholic beverage line making Wisconsin-inspired Old Fashioneds.
Mock & Co.’s ready-to-drink Old Fashioned features flavors of the traditional cocktail like cherry and citrus as well as carbonation and a familiar alcohol burn from ginger additives.
The duo created the drink in response to declining alcohol consumption across the nation combined with a personal decision to cut back on liquor in their diets.
A little over a year since its launch, Mock & Co.’s beverages are now available in 60 locations across the state and have recently been approved for sale at Kroger-branded stores including Pick n’ Save and Metro Market.
Mock & Co.’s current portfolio includes three kinds of Old Fashioneds – sweet, sour and no sugar added – as well as a Wisconsin cranberry mule.
The product retails in stores for $13, and online direct to customer for $12. The company reported $80,000 in sales last year and is eyeing $250,000 in sales this year.
“We want to scale, but we want to do it mindfully and thoughtfully,” Khimani said.
JenGer Doll
Licensed cosmetologist and cranial prosthetic specialist Jennifer Brown was awarded $1,000 for her company JenGer Doll, a hair care company providing medical-grade wigs for patients with autoimmune diseases, cancer or alopecia.
Brown partners with hospitals, oncologists and other medical providers to provide service to patients who receive a prescription for specialty hair care or wig installation. GenJer Doll then helps the patient with wig fitting and styling, education on wig care and maintenance and insurance claims and coverage for medical wigs (wigs made with human hair and special materials conducive to a variety of treatments).
Without insurance, an appointment with wig installation costs about $500.
Brown is currently advocating for statewide legislation to accommodate insurance coverage for patients in need of medical-grade wigs.
Next steps for the company involve gaining more visibility in hospitals, Brown said.
Mumbies, Mock & Co. and JenGer Doll appeared on Project Pitch It’s season finale on WISN-TV Channel 12 on May 30.
BizTimes is the media partner for Project Pitch It, a local TV show similar to ABC’s “Shark Tank,” now in its 10th season. Project Pitch It episodes are available for streaming on the Very Local app.
