Kansas City Mom Wins UMKC Side Hustle Challenge

News Summary

Riley Rhoads, a business student, wins the 2024 UMKC Side Hustle Challenge with her innovative baby clothing line ‘Hold Tight Baby.’ Her design caters to crawling infants, providing comfort and style while resolving common sizing issues for busy moms. The challenge featured 32 entries, and Rhoads took home a $1,000 prize, showcasing the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in Kansas City.

Exciting News in Kansas City: Local Mom Wins Side Hustle Challenge!

In a delightful turn of events, Kansas City is buzzing with excitement as a local mom has taken home first place in the 2024 UMKC Side Hustle Challenge. Riley Rhoads, a dedicated business student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has created a fantastic new line of baby clothing that is sure to make waves — and pacifiers — everywhere! Her innovative concept, “Hold Tight Baby,” focuses on making life just a tad easier for busy moms shopping for their little ones.

Crawling with Style

Rhoads’ unique design features pants specifically tailored for crawling babies, a critical time when little ones are beginning to explore the world on their hands and knees. But Rhoads didn’t just throw together any old pants! These little beauties are specifically designed to correlate with diaper sizes instead of just the standard age in months. This means that the pants not only look adorable, but they also provide a comfortable fit for babies who are constantly on the go.

The pants come with an extra roomy, loose-fit style that lets babies move freely, while the fold-down waistband adds an extra layer of comfort. And lest we forget, those clever little ankle straps keep everything securely in place so that moms won’t have to worry about them sliding down during playtime. Talk about a win-win!

The Inspiration Behind the Idea

As someone who has recently experienced the twists and turns of motherhood, Rhoads knows firsthand just how challenging shopping for baby clothes can be. With the chaos of inconsistent sizing across different brands and even genders, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right outfit for your tiny tot. This is exactly why Rhoads has poured so much care and passion into alleviating the mental load for other busy moms. Her daughter served as her muse, and now Rhoads is on a mission to change the game!

A Competitive Spirit

The UMKC Side Hustle Challenge is no small feat, and with 32 entries this year, Rhoads stood out and made her mark. During a lively “First Tuesdays” event, the finalists had the chance to pitch their unique business ideas via two-minute social media videos. Audience members enthusiastically voted in real-time, leading Rhoads to take home a cool cash prize of $1,000!

Crowning Other Talents

But Rhoads wasn’t the only one shining that night! The second place went to the “Thrift-A-Roo” project, an exciting initiative aimed at creating a student-led pop-up shop. This project focuses on reselling clothes and items for dorms while promoting sustainability—another nod to the modern shopping practices that savvy consumers are looking for these days. They snagged a nifty prize of $750.

Lesly Romo also made waves with her compelling venture called “Golazo,” which seeks to spice up soccer in the community by offering a competitive and social soccer experience infused with variations from around the globe. For her creative idea, Romo received a prize of $500!

Supporting the Journey

The event culminated in a founder panel hosted by Joel Barrett of the Missouri Small Business Development Center, which discussed the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. The importance of not only solving real problems but also having the conviction to carry out those ideas was emphasized, inspiring many attendees to think about their own business ventures.

A Celebration of Entrepreneurship

With an array of innovative ideas on display and several promising projects receiving recognition, it was evident that creativity and resilience are alive and thriving within the Kansas City community. Rhoads and her fellow finalists are prime examples of how entrepreneurship can spark positive change and have a meaningful impact. Here’s hoping that the future holds even more exciting developments from these talented entrepreneurs!