Round Two of the competition took place at EverBank Field on Friday, August 7, when contestants were interviewed in ten-minute blocks by executives from Web.com and the Jaguars.
Each company was given the opportunity to introduce its business and talk in detail about the opportunity to win the grand prize: a complete digital makeover from Web.com and a 2015 Jaguars sponsorship, together valued at over $250,000.
"We've been pleased and impressed with the quality of the entrants and the competitive field we've seen in this promotion," said Jaguars SVP Marketing Steve Ziff. "These companies have brought their best ideas and best presentations in hopes of winning this competition, and we know that whoever does win will be just one of many qualified and capable local businesses in the field."
The nine companies selected to compete in the "Shark Tank"-style final, called The Cage, are: Modasten, Inc.; Vinny; Bucket Grip, LLC; Fernandina Mulch & Stone; Chef Phil's BBQ Sauce; Backyard Pops, LLC; Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency; Sanders Elite Training Performance; and Townie's Pizza.
These contestants will return to EverBank Field this week to enter The Cage composed of a panel of five judges: Shad Khan, Owner, Jacksonville Jaguars;* *Mark Lamping, President, Jacksonville Jaguars; David Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Web.com; Jaime Weston, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Brand & Creative, National Football League; and Camille Lee-Johnson, Executive Vice President, Lee Wesley Companies.
The final round will take place this week and the winner will be announced during the third quarter of the Jaguars' preseason-opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Friday, August 14.
Small Business Breakthrough Powered by Web.com was launched in an effort to help small businesses discover new ways to boost their marketing and earn next-level exposure. The recent launch of the Jaguars Black B2B initiative – designed to provide small businesses with the most complete corporate experience in professional sports, and entertainment and Web.com's position as an industry leader in helping build customers' businesses by harnessing the full potential of the web – made this partnership a perfect fit.
The winner's comprehensive sponsorship of the Jaguars will include both traditional and non-traditional assets such as: logo designation and usage rights; video board presence and commercial inventory; television and radio commercials featuring a Jaguars player or coach as an endorser; digital media presence on jaguars.com and in Jaguars social media; in-business appearances by Jaguars players, coaches, and/or personalities; premium hospitality at EverBank Field on game days; and client and prospect experiences with the Jaguars, and more.
The winner's digital makeover will also provide access to Web.com's full suite of industry-leading solutions, including: state of the art custom website (or rebuild if necessary); digital strategy session to boost customer reach – SEO/SEM, advertising, email marketing, ecommerce, and social media optimization; and a dedicated account manager to provide ongoing website updates and optimization.
