Kevin Miller, owner of Jumpin’ Junction Family Fun Center, gives his presentation to a panel of judges during the Spark Soldotna competition at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kevin Miller, owner of Jumpin’ Junction Family Fun Center, gives his presentation to a panel of judges during the Spark Soldotna competition at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Local entrepreneurs enter the ‘Shark Tank’

A kombucha-brewing couple from Kenai walked away with an extra $4,000 for their business Friday night after being declared the winners of the first Spark Soldotna competition.

Devon and Brian Gonzalez, owners of Kenai Kombucha, were one of five local business owners that pitched their ideas for expansion to a panel of judges at the Catch Restaurant with the hopes of receiving a scholarship from the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce worth $4,000. Modeled after the TV show “Shark Tank,” the competition gave each business owner five minutes to make their case, and the judges had five minutes to ask questions of the entrepreneurs before scoring them and determining a winner.

“We’re so excited,” Devon Gonzalez said after being declared the winner. Gonzales said during her presentation that the money would be used primarily to expand their production capacity with a bigger fermenter. The Kenai Kombucha taproom opened in mid-October, but the two were already supplying their product to several other local businesses, including Kenai River Brewing Company, as well as selling at the weekly Wednesday Markets in Soldotna. Brian Gonzalez said they met their production capacity almost immediately and have struggled to keep up with the demand.

“We got a smaller fermenter that was gonna be 75 gallons, but we ended having to double that. And then double that,” Brian Gonzalez said. “At this point we’re shooting for another 500 gallons a month.”

The other competitors for Spark Soldotna were Candy Fitzpatrick, owner of Rest Angles, LLC; Kevin Miller, owner of Jumpin’ Junction Family Fun Center; Ron Levey, owner of Alaska Photo Adventures; and Sherri McVey, owner of Dinners Ready. The panel of judges was also comprised of local leaders in the business community: Steve Horn, associate professor of business at Kenai Peninsula College; Tim Jordan, owner of Northern Tech Group; Pam Parker, owner of Everything Bagels; Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Member Tyson Cox; and Megan Weston, owner of Odie’s Deli.

After all the business owners had given their presentations, the Class Act Drama Troupe from Triumvirate Theatre gave a performance of “The Greatest Show” by Panic! at the Disco at intermission while the judge’s deliberated on the winner.

In addition to being scored by the judges, the audience was also able to cast their vote for their favorite business or presentation. Kenai Kombucha ended up the winner of the popular vote as well as the judge’s choice and received two free years of membership to the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce..

The Class Act Drama Troupe gives an intermission performance during the Spark Soldotna competition at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

The Class Act Drama Troupe gives an intermission performance during the Spark Soldotna competition at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

The crowd for the Spark Soldotna Competition can be seen here at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

The crowd for the Spark Soldotna Competition can be seen here at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Devon and Brian Gonzalez smile with their check for $4000 after being declared the winners of the Spark Soldotna competition at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Devon and Brian Gonzalez smile with their check for $4000 after being declared the winners of the Spark Soldotna competition at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Kenai Middle School Principal Vaughn Dosko points out elements of a redesign plan for the front of the school on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Work soon to begin on Kenai Middle security upgrades

The security upgrades are among several key KPBSD maintenance projects included in a bond approved by borough voters in October 2022.

The Kenai Fire Department headquarters are photographed on Feb. 13, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenai adds funds, authorizes contract for study of emergency services facility

The building shared by Kenai’s police and fire departments hasn’t kept up with the needs of both departments, chief says.

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai awards contract to develop Parks and Rec master plan

The document is expected to guide the next 20 years of outdoors and recreation development in the city.

Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)
KPBSD launches ‘Balancing Act’ software, calls for public to balance $17 million deficit

The district and other education advocates have said that the base student allocation has failed to keep up with inflation.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Harvest Alaska announces proposed redevelopment of Kenai LNG terminal

The project could deliver additional natural gas supplies to the Southcentral market as early as 2026, developers said.

A depth marker is almost entirely subsumed by the waters of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
After delay, borough adopts updated flood insurance maps

The assembly had previously postponed the legislation amid outcry from the Kenai River Keys Property Owners Association.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough approves federal request to fund recycling redesign

A large baler that was used for recycling was recently left inoperable by a catastrophic failure in its main ram.

A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)
Trump’s immigration raids arrive in Alaska, while Coast Guard in state help deportations at southern US border

Anchorage arrests touted by FBI, DEA; Coast Guard plane from Kodiak part of “alien expulsion flight operations.”

Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist asks participants to kneel as a gesture to “stay grounded in the community” during a protest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday focused on President Donald Trump’s actions since the beginning of his second term. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Trump protest rally at Alaska State Capitol targets Nazi-like salutes, challenges to Native rights

More than 120 people show up as part of nationwide protest to actions during onset of Trump’s second term.

Most Read