The annual competition awards three emerging businesses $10,000 in cash, along with valuable business coaching and consulting, a release said.

The 2018 winners were:

• Caroline Hayden LLC: Caroline Hayden, Crookston: After 12 years of working with brides on custom gowns, Hayden launched a collection in 2016 and was named “Bridal’s New Guard” by Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Her collections take aim at a growing market need for fashion focused bridal gowns and separates that are orderable in sizes 0-12 and sold via bridal boutiques and online luxury retailers.

• Real Good Bath and Body: Carol Simmons, Crookston: High quality, nature-based, handmade soaps, bath bombs, lotions and other bath and body products. The business began as a hobby Simmons kitchen and has grown to include retail locations in Beijing, China, as well as retail locations in Minnesota and North Dakota. They also donate to worthy causes with every purchase.

• Safe-D-Transfer: Duane Lillevold and Bryan Hammitt, Bemidji: Specialized equipment for patient transfer in the healthcare industry that alleviates the pain that normally accompanies patient transfer when done by human-to-human contact.

The runners-up were Boffins Technology, Michael Hendricks, Bemidji; EthnoTrax, Dave Wall, Bemidji and Summer Kitchen Supplies Inc., Mark Schultz, Bemidji.

The runners-up receive $1,000 in cash. EthnoTrax also took home the MN Cup Award, which includes an automatic entry into the MN Cup competition semi-final round. The MN Cup competition is the premier resource for early state entrepreneurs, supporting and accelerating the development of breakthrough business ideas across Minnesota, the release said.

In addition to the competition winners, Grant Oppegaard was honored with the Regional Impact Award for his years of service as a consultant with the Northwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center and the Batchelder family, owners of the Bemidji Woolen Mills, were also honored with the 2018 IDEA Hall of Fame award.