Kisstixx Wins in National Small Business Video Contest

Utah Valley University business student entrepreneurs Dallas Robinson and Mike Buonomo, who started their growing lip-balm company Kisstixx with a small business loan, shared their story in a video for the National Small Business Week Video Contest and were one of the four winners selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Winners were invited to participate in a Google+ Hangout hosted by the Small Business Administration and the White House. Their winning videos were featured during National Small Business Week, May 20-26, in Washington, D.C., and will be used by the agency at other high-profile functions and events.

“We are so proud of Dallas and Mike. They are the quintessential entrepreneurs; innovative, driven, disciplined and always learning,” said Shauna Theobald, director of UVU’s Woodbury School of Business Entrepreneurship Institute. “In spite of their rapid ascent into the national spotlight, they remain committed to connecting and collaborating with other startups and with proven mentors. They’ve demonstrated the power of leveraging the resources and networks of the UVU startup community.”

As featured in their contest video, it all started with a $50,000 small business loan and support from the University, including mentoring from Woodbury School of Business faculty, the Entrepreneurship Institute, the Small Business Development Center and fellow UVU students, who helped create Kisstixx’s logo, packaging and initial website.
After securing a $200,000 investment from media mogul and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the popular TV show “Shark Tank” in March, the company has been concentrating on developing international markets for its innovative lip balm, which includes two sticks of complementary flavors that mix and react when two people kiss.

“Utah is known for having a high entrepreneurial population,” said Norman Wright, dean of the Woodbury School of Business. “We are very pleased with our Entrepreneurship Institute and the great faculty and staff that work with these students in growing their businesses and ensuring their success.”

For more information on the contest, see National Small Business Contest Winners. To view Kisstixx’s winning contest video, visit youtu.be/BP4C-gGf498.