The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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December 14, 2009

No $100K prize, but Femrite still enthusiastic about bamboo

By Tim Krohn

MANKATO — Mankato entrepreneur April Femrite didn’t win the $100,000 prize in the Forbes.com contest, but it isn’t slowing her ambitions to expand her Naturally Bamboo business.

Femrite was one of five finalists who were flown to New York to present their startup business plans to a panel of judges.

The winner of the contest was Ksplice, a Massachusetts company that developed software to install computer updates without rebooting.

Femrite, who sells clothing made of bamboo fiber, bested more than 1,500 other entrants in the country to become one of 20 semi-finalists and then one of the finalists.

She wrote about her experience in her blog. naturallybamboo.wordpress.com

Femrite is seeking $3 million in venture capital to launch her business to the next phase.

“I will continue a grass roots effort to increase both on-line and retail store sales,” Femrite said of her immediate plans.

She is also a finalist for the ISPO Brand New Awards — ispo-brandnew.com/en/Hottest_Brands.aspx. Winners will be notified in January and receive a free booth at the world’s largest sports show in Munich, Germany.

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