Unlike Shark Tank that swallows up their contestants in a highly competitive environment, Top Entrepreneur celebrates the spirit of this truly American initiative and strives to encourage entrepreneurship to help drive the local economy. Panelists Robert Lewis, president of Bay State Savings Bank, Michael Refolo, a business lawyer with the Mirick O’Connell Law Firm and Fern Nissim, president of Round Pond Group and a co producer of the show listen to the contestants stories of overcoming challenges, ask pertinent questions and offer professional advice to determine the Top Entrepreneur from a legal, financial and marketing perspective.

The premier show airing in December will feature a graduate of Babson’s Institute that has undertaken a huge initiative in setting up a website to help navigate the confusing world of eldercare options and services and viewers will hear the inspiring story of a local man- father of four that was recently laid off and took his experience, initiative and guts to start his own company in waste management.

Local personality, Host John DiPietro president of Advanced Business Concepts DiPietro (ABCD) Company and co producer guides the contestants and panel of experts through the “unscripted” process and the announcing of the final selection of Top place. More than 175 applications were received for the first show competition through social web links. Businesses must be less than two months away from launching or less than two years in business to qualify. Top Entrepreneurs go on to compete with others for a grand prize. For more information on show times or how to participate please go to www.topentrepreneur.tv

Watch Episode 1 >

For each monthly episode, start-up company owners compete in front of a panel of experts. The panelists – a business, financial and marketing expert – will hear contestants’ stories and then ask questions and offer professional advice in their quest to determine the “top entrepreneur. March show sponsors are Bay State Savings Bank and the Law firm of Mirick O’Connell.

Unlike ABC’s “Shark Tank,” which swallows up contestants in a highly competitive environment, “Top Entrepreneur” celebrates the spirit of this truly American initiative and strives to encourage entrepreneurship to help drive the local economy.

The March show, episode 3, features Rod Lee, publisher/editor of Inside Worcester, a four color magazine that presents a colorful insiders perspective on the Worcester area and Zak Normandin a young entrepreneur, that has given up his day job to follow his dream of launching a healthy baby snack company. Expert panelists for March are Steven Groccia, senior vice president of Bay State Savings Bank, Jeffrey Swaim a business lawyer with Mirick O’Connell, and Fern Nissim, president of Round Pond Group and co-producer of the show.

Show host and co-producer John DiPietro, president of Advanced Business Concepts DiPietro (ABCD) Co., guides the contestants and panelists through the unscripted process.

Hundreds of applications have already been received via social web links. Top entrepreneurs go on to compete with others for a grand prize. To qualify, businesses must be within two months of launching or have been up and running for less than two years. The “Top Entrepreneur” logo was created by Image Boosters in North Grafton.  For more information on show times or how to participate, visit www.topentrepreneur.tv.

Watch Episode 3 >

For each monthly episode, the panelists – a business, financial and marketing expert – will hear contestants’ stories and then ask questions and offer professional advice in their quest to determine the “top” entrepreneur. The expert panel will rate them based on preset rules to determine possible chance for success in three areas: Market appeal, Business potential, and Investment viability. Show host and co-producer John DiPietro, president of Advanced Business Concepts DiPietro (ABCD) Co., guides the contestants and panelists through the unscripted process.

“ Being an entrepreneur was purely by accident in my case but has taken on a life of its own,” says entrepreneur and company president Brian Meagher. “The thought of having a successful business that will change our lives is very real and looks within reach. I simply invented a product that solved my personal problem. When I invented it I didn’t think about the millions of people that had the same problem. It really is the American Dream to think that some one like myself could change, to some degree thousands if not millions of pool owners. We are thankful for having been on the show. The advice and suggestions from the panel were helpful and gave us great encouragement,” said Meagher.

Anna Eves, president of Digi Pix who competed alongside Meagher commented, “I’m very excited to be a part of this new reality show. With the popularity of Shark Tank, The Big Idea, and people starting up their own businesses, I believe there is a need for reality shows that highlight the ups, downs, and success of being an entrepreneur.” It was a great experience to meet with the “panelists” and get their objective advice as I love getting the opportunity to talk with seasoned business people,” she added. DigiPix.us is an artistic revolution, your photos don’t have to be trapped in an 8×10 glossy anymore – they are now free to be works of art. Digi Pix creates a work of art for from your photos in the style of your choice.

Hundreds of applications have been received by Top Entrepreneur via social web links. To qualify, businesses must be within two months of launching or have been up and running for less than two years. The “Top Entrepreneur” logo was created by Image Boosters in North Grafton . For more information on the show or how to participate, visit www.topentrepreneur.tv.

About Critter Skimmers- Brian Meagher

Finally, there is an environmentally safe way to save the frogs and small critters that inevitably make their way into your in-ground pool! Replacing the pool skimmer cover with a Critter Skimmer allows animals that invariably end up in the pool to climb up the attached spiral rescue ramp and through the opening in the skimmer cover to safety.

It was voted ” Best New Product for 2008″ at the International Pool and Spa Show in Las Vegas last year. The Critter Skimmer has a rescue ramp connected to it that allows frogs and other small critters the ability to escape from the pools skimmer area. The skimmer basket located in the skimmer area is where for years I would find many dead frogs and other unfortunate animals that had jumped in thinking it was a pond. Pools are all designed to push everything towards the skimmer area so the pool owner can simply empty the basket of debris that falls in the pool. The problem is that for decades it has been the death trap for anything that jumps in thinking it is a safe place. No one likes finding dead or for that matter live anything in the skimmer basket so my little invention appeals to both sides of the spectrum We soon discovered that we also have a problem that the Critter Skimmer is helping on a more important level. In 2008 the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) named 2008 “Year of the Frog” due to the global problem of declining frog populations. They feel that this is a very very big problem as due many scientists around the world. Anyone that reads about this problem is surprised how important the frogs are to our planet. The numbers are kind of crazy. There are roughly six million (6000,000) in ground pools in the USA alone killing million and millions of our little bug eating friends every year. I am not saying that the Critter Skimmer is the cure all but it is a great way to help this global problem here at home.
Contact: Brian Meagher

www.critterskimmer.com

Cape Neddick ME 03902

About Digipix.us – Anna Eves

My husband and I started a company called DigiPix.Us LLC in October of 2009. We create custom works of art from our customers photographs using digital techniques and print them on fine art paper and museum quality canvas. We are primarily an ecommerce business. We have a lot of great ideas for our new company and are very excited about the possibilities. So far response to our product has been wonderful. We have been doing a lot of social media marketing using Facebook, Twitter, blogging etc and using services like HARO to get the word out about our company – we were featured in several blogs for the holidays and also had a featured TV appearance (our product did) on NBC affiliate WFLA’s show Daytime that was very successful. My background is in insurance as a customer service rep and as a former agency owner. I left insurance because I did not enjoy it and I wanted something more fun to do and I have found it. I graduated from Boston University with a BA in International Relations. My husband is a classically trained artist who now works exclusively on the computer and has been working as a freelance graphic artist and high end retoucher mostly for advertising agencies. He is a lifetime member of the Art Students League and attended The School for Visual Arts in NYC.

Contact: Anna Eves
website: http://www.digipix.us

Rockport , MA

Watch Episode 4 >