Riverside, Calif., November 18, 2025 – A sellout crowd of over 800 entrepreneurs, business/civic leaders, and community members recognized and celebrated the visionaries who dare to be BOLD BY DESIGN – entrepreneurs who do not wait for opportunity but create it with purpose. As event founder and producer Mike Stull noted, “This event reminds us that entrepreneurship is not just about business success – it is about vision, purpose, and community. And this year’s theme, “Bold by Design,” captures that perfectly.”
The audience, along with the 29 finalists selected from a pool of over 300 nominees, enjoyed an incredible evening of awards and entertainment that reinforced the gala’s status as Inland Southern California's premier business event. The entrepreneurs, representing 7 different categories of business/industry types, competed to be recognized as the top entrepreneur for 2025. In addition, the event featured the presentation of a special recognition – Family Business Legacy Award – to the Cramer family of Star Milling Co. a fourth-generation, family-owned feed maker based in Perris and born from Olin Cramer’s egg farm and built across more than five decades by the Cramer family - Richard, Bill, and current president Paul.
This year's award recipients recognized at the black-tie gala, chosen from the 29 finalists, include:
Learn more about each of the finalists and award recipients here!
FAST PITCH COMPETITION
As part of the event festivities, the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition was held for five future entrepreneurs to deliver a 90-second pitch about their up-and-coming venture idea to the audience and were critiqued on their overall preparation, poise and professional presentation. The top three pitches were recognized, and the top student walked away with a $4,000 prize. The fast pitch, which involves students from Cal State San Bernardino, is sponsored by local entrepreneur Garner Holt of Garner Holt Productions and County of San Bernardino Economic Development. The top 3 finishers were:
- 1st Place – Jacob Estrada – BluCore Minerals
- 2nd Place – Brianna Lee – Date in a Box
- 3rd Place – Anjali – Flamingo Jeans
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