Tag Archives: pawzii

Deadline nears for $20k small biz competition

Entrepreneurs and small business owners have one more week to sign up for Kitsap Bank’s $20,000 edg3 FUND competition. 

0707_KSAP_edg3 FUND logo_1435678770266_20553009_ver1.0_640_480The annual competition, launched in 2014, recognizes businesses that benefit their communities economically, socially and environmentally. The deadline for applications is July 31.

Judges will select semifinalists in August and a public vote will help narrow the field in September. Finalists will give presentations during a live event Nov. 12 at Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton, and the winner will be announced the same day.

Last year’s competition drew about 70 entries. The winner was Pawzii, Inc., a company founded in Bremerton with offices in Seattle. Pawzii offers online pet licensing services.

See the edg3 FUND competition website for more details.

Kitsap Bank awards $20k to pet licensing tech firm

WA dogs in winter coats

A tech company focused on streamlining pet licensing won Kitsap Bank’s $20,000 Edg3 FUND award.

Pawzii, Inc., founded by Bremerton resident Alec Matias, develops software tools for animal licensing programs at shelters and local governments. The company has its headquarters in Seattle. It partners with the Kitsap Humane Society, King County and Seattle Animal Shelter among other organizations.

pawziiMatias, a former Zillow employee, said he believe his startup can help increase pet licensing rates by making the process easy.

“We’re just passionate pet people trying to fill this void,” Matias said in a recent interview.

While providing licensing software platforms for organizations, Pawzii.com offers a portal for pet owners to register their animals online. The site automatically files their paperwork with the nearest licensing office. Customers pay a small fee to Pawzii for each transaction.

A panel of judges awarded the inaugural Edg3 FUND small business prize to Pawzii Wednesday at an event in Bremerton.

“They are innovative and truly focused on making a difference in the community in a socially and environmentally responsible way,” Kitsap Bank President Tony George said in a news release.

Pawzii was one of five finalists for the award, which recognizes small businesses that benefit their communities economically, socially or environmentally. The company will use the prize money to expand its technology and scale up its business, according to the release.