ABERDEEN — Madi Jones, a Northern State University student, won the 2026 Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition with her proposal for CR8 Soda, a specialty drink shop, earning a $10,000 prize. Jones plans to operate CR8 Soda from a repurposed shipping container.

Four finalists presented their business ideas at Engel's Event Company in Aberdeen. "It feels awesome. I don't know if it's set in yet, but I'm excited for sure," Jones said.

Jones had previously won first place in Northern State University's idea pitch competition in fall 2025. She has purchased shipping containers and equipment for her business.

The Northern Innovation and Startup Center hosted the competition in partnership with the Aberdeen Development Corporation. Bea Smith, director of the Northern Innovation and Startup Center, said the competition is a highlight of the year. "The Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition is always a highlight of the year because Aberdeen really rallies around entrepreneurship and innovation," Smith said. "Tonight was no exception. We had a room full of people supporting our four finalists that pitched their ideas. It's always just a very encouraging event for entrepreneurs and small business owners here in northeast South Dakota."

Smith added, "Our goal with a competition like this is really rallying around businesses early in their development, the ones that just need a little investment to launch to the next level, whatever that may mean for the founder." Smith noted that mentorship is a highlight of the event. "One of the highlights of this event in past years is the opportunity for mentorship that each one of our finalists usually has," she said. "Somebody will reach out to them and say, 'Hey, I'd love to help you with your idea. How can I help?' Aberdeen is a very supportive community."

The Northern Innovation and Startup Center has been in operation for four years, and this was the third year for the Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition. Smith said the center helped Jones incubate her business idea and connect her with a community mentor. "We've helped her kind of incubate this business idea, get connected to a community mentor," she said. "To see her go from the idea stage to taking the stage to taking the check is just a whole different level."

Tim Hanigan, chief executive officer of the Aberdeen Development Corporation, also commented on the event. "Tonight, four great contestants pitched, and Madi Jones with CR8 Soda won," Hanigan said. He added, "It's probably my favorite event of the year." The Aberdeen Development Corporation provides the competition's prize money and also awarded an additional $1,000 to the runner-up. Hanigan noted that the corporation will continue to meet with the applicants to support their businesses. "In addition to that, we're going to continue to meet with them," he said. "We're going to continue to meet with the other people that put in the application and try to support their businesses."

Other finalists included Marquelle Reid with Abode Chiropractic, Jessica Cihak with Everlasting Bloom, and Jacquelyn Cutler with Opus ABA LLC.