Prescott Bark Wins Moonshot Competition

After two rigorous competitions – one for the Quad Cities area, the other at state level – Prescott husband and wife team Mike and Elaine O’Connor won the 2021 AZ Pioneer Pitch Tour award in The 2nd Annual Shoemaker Awards, an event that celebrates entrepreneurship.

The O’Connors received a $10,000 check because of their innovative presentation of a plan to found Prescott Bark. The money was gifted by Arizona Public Service through Moonshot at NACET.

They received the award during formal ceremonies June 17, at Little America in Flagstaff.

They were selected from among seven entrepreneurial efforts from throughout the state in a Shark Tank-style  competition designed to support innovative businesses that can foster jobs, provide a useful service and add to the economy in positive ways.

Elaine O’Connor told Quad Cities Business News that she will use the award as part of the goal of acquiring property and facilities to house between 80 to 120 dogs for boarding daycare, professional grooming and other premium dog care services. Prescott Bark also will have access to qualified veterinary services.

Prescott Bark also will have a “Bark Bus” to pick up and deliver dogs. Ultimately, pet-sitting also will be part of what the company will do, says O’Connor. Initially, staff size will include at least 20 full-time and part-time employees.

The O’Connors moved to Prescott two years ago from Houston. Mike is from Texas, while Elaine is a native of Ireland. They conceived of Prescott Bark when they could not find facilities within the immediate area that could care for their two dogs without a long-standing reservation.

“I talked to city officials about the need for premium dog facilities. They suggested we work with the Small Business Development Center at Yavapai College. We did. That led to our being counseled professionally – at no cost – about developing a business plan to create Prescott Bark,” Elaine explained. She said Prescott Bark was chosen in March as the best of 13 projects locally to compete in the state competition in Flagstaff.

She estimated the cost for Prescott Bark will exceed $1 million. “We anticipate we’re at least six to eight months away from opening and that’s if we don’t have any complications or unexpected delays.”

The award program was organized by Moonshot, a 22-year-old non-profit Flagstaff-based business innovation center and incubator designed to help entrepreneurs create businesses. The program attracted applicants from throughout Arizona. QCBN

For more information about Prescott Bark, call 617-827-7282