Spark Bowl, a Shark Tank-Style Competition in Bucks County, Awards Small Business with First Place
Southampton, Pa., April 2021 – Newlywed couple Anthony and Rachel Prato still have plenty to celebrate, even though their nuptials have been slightly derailed by the pandemic. The co-owners of Xenoil, LLC, a U.S.-based manufacturing company that aims to reduce plastic waste by creating products with recycled plastics, were awarded first place and a $12,000 grand prize at the second annual Spark Bowl on Thursday, April 15, 2021.
The Shark Tank-style competition, hosted by Delaware Valley University's Small Business & Entrepreneurship Center (SBEC) and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce (CBCC), encourages entrepreneurs, innovative businesses and nonprofit organizations to address social, consumer and business-oriented challenges to support the economic growth and prosperity of Bucks County.
Xenoil was among the top five finalists to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. Undergraduate business students from Delaware Valley University worked with Anthony and Rachel Prato as business consultants, helping them prepare their pitch to the panel of judges.
”Spark Bowl allowed us the opportunity to grow as a business to think outside the box about the future of our company,” said Anthony Prato, co-owner of Xenoil. “This competition helped prove that sustainable businesses are not just conceptual. We look forward to a bright future.”
The prize money will be used to upgrade and expand Xenoil’s manufacturing capabilities and marketing efforts to increase employment opportunities in Bucks County.
The couple had postponed their wedding celebrations twice due to the pandemic, but elected to get married with an intimate ceremony followed by a backyard reception in October 2020. They plan to celebrate their first anniversary with a delayed reception this fall.
