"I'm still pinching myself," said Ree Dolnick on WBEN, one of five winners of the 43 North Finals at Shea's Thursday night. Her company received a million dollars for her startup business, JECA Energy Bars, inspired in her kitchen.
"I was experimenting at home and sharing these with my friends and co workers and there was a lightbulb moment when someone wanted to pay for them. It became my new career."
Unlike many other energy bars, JECA bars are not ultra processed. "In my mind," she said, "anything that we eat should be whole foods, and be helpful and not harmful."
Dolnick is a longtime fan of the 43 North competition from prior years when ACV Auctions and Top Seedz won. But never in her wildest dreams did she think she would be on the stage.
JECA bars are currently available at Wegmans, Whole Foods, Tops and local co-ops.
The million dollar prize will help her grow the business into a national brand because right now she said she can't keep up with the demand.
JECA was the only Buffalo based business in the 43 North finals.
The other winners were Playground (Rochester, NY), Leansite (Arlington, TX), Airbuild INC. (Portland, OR), and Valene Health (New York, NY). All five are required to base their operations in Buffalo for at least one year as part of the incubator and accelerator program.
The five winners of the 43 North Finals43 North
