An entrepreneur with an idea for a new product may know exactly what they want to build but have no idea how to make a prototype. Another may have customers and a working business but be struggling to hire employees, buy equipment or find enough capital to expand.

Vibe Consignment won the $10,000 grand prize by phone light last month, but the competition is just one night in the Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub’s year-round work helping Gorge businesses get off the ground and grow.