With cash prizes and coveted mentorships up for grabs, the contest invited aspiring entrepreneurs to take the first step towards realizing their online business dreams. In Q4 2021, Radix’s .Store Domains announced the closure of their #IdeaToStore contest, sponsored by Shopify. And what a journey it was! The contest invited aspiring entrepreneurs to shed their vulnerability and take the courageous step to share their ideas for an online store. In a tremendous response, nearly 5000 entries rolled in with the determination to take home up to $30,000 in cash prizes, along with an exclusive Q&A with Seth Godin and mentoring from the judges, and a chance to be on David Meltzer’s 2 Minute Drill, aired on Bloomberg TV and Amazon Prime. 
 
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It all came down to 6 finalists of the contest judges choosing. The winner and runner-up, Indira Andrewin and Erika Warner respectively, were both given the chance to pitch their ideas to the highly accomplished panel along with four other finalists. 
 
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  Judges for the contest included – Seth Godin, Entrepreneur, Best-selling Author, & Speaker; Natalie Ellis, CEO & Co-founder, BossBabe; Danielle Canty, President & Co-founder, BossBabe; John Lee Dumas (JLD), Founder & Host, Entrepreneurs on Fire; and Neha Naik, Sr Director of Channel Partnerships at Radix.  Speaking about the contest, judge Danielle Canty said, “I have absolutely loved the contest. I think it’s really allowed so many people to take that first step in their business.”  Interestingly, this was a sentiment shared by the judges as well as the participants. In finalist Luanettee Colebrooke’s words, “There were so many women, and aspiring entrepreneurs in general, that .Store Domains encouraged and empowered. I just want to thank you so much for being a place where our voices can be heard and validated.”
 
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  While .Store Domains has been the choice of some of the world’s most notable brands, this contest went a long way in fulfilling .Store Domains’ commitment to simplifying the process of taking an idea online.  Aiming to make a real difference, the prizes were conscientiously considered, ensuring that each would offer tangible value in the winner’s entrepreneurial journey. The weekly prizes and the grand prize itself set the stage, emboldened those still on the fence, and motivated them to share their idea with the world.  In addition, the contest succeeded in creating a highly positive, nurturing, and encouraging environment for budding entrepreneurs. This community continues to thrive and grow through social media even after the contest closure.  Speaking about the contest and its impact, Suman Das, Sr. Brand Director, .Store Domains, said, “Turning an idea into an online store requires a great deal of courage. And the first step – sharing your idea with others – is often the hardest. We are happy to say that with the #IdeaToStore contest, we empowered 5,000 individuals to take that first step towards building their online store.”
If you’re as excited about what’s next for .Store Domains, follow @getdotstore on Instagram to stay up to date on a whole lot of exciting updates, contest pitches, and other activities.  A version of this article appeared on DNJ. 
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