Two winnners at monthly start-up pitch contest

A company that recycles wooden barrels in creative ways and a business offering a handy garment bag were the winners of the monthly start-up pitch contest at co-working space LaunchPad Long Island.

The contest, held Monday night at LaunchPad's space in Mineola, featured four early-stage companies pitching themselves for prospective investments from audience members. Attendees are also asked to score each company to an audience winner, with a tie resulting from Monday night's event.

The two winners were Jubilee Flooring, a West Islip business that dries and flattens wood from wine and whiskey barrels to make into floorboards, and It's My Bag — a venture from Hicksville resident Tonia Torrellas that sells garment bags for dry cleaning and traveling.

The two other companies that pitched were a website that helped consumers compares car care service prices and a group developing a solar panel-enhancing "blanket" which utilized phosphorus.

The audience-selected winners will receive a monthly pass to work at LaunchPad’s space and mentoring from the organization's network of contacts.