We started in 2020. Today our team of 22 serves more than 80 businesses, and we hold a 4.9-star rating across more than 320 reviews on Google.
We won the $10,000 grand prize at the 15th annual Fort Worth Business Plan Competition. The finale took place on Thursday, October 15, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Here is how the night went, what we pitched, and how we plan to use the prize. You will also find a quick check you can run today to see if AI tools name your business.
What Happened at the 2026 Finale
The City of Fort Worth Economic Development Department hosts this competition each year. Frost Bank is the sponsor. You can read the details on the City of Fort Worth competition page.
The Fort Worth Report also covered the winners. You can also read the win story in Fort Worth Inc. and The Business Press. Photos from the finale are in the Fort Worth Inc. story.
Here is how the competition worked:
- Twenty Fort Worth businesses made the Top 20. We were one of them.
- Those businesses went through workshops, coaching, and pitch practice.
- Eight finalists took the stage. Each gave a three-minute pitch, then answered judges’ questions for two minutes.
- Three winners shared $20,000 in cash prizes: $10,000, $6,000, and $4,000.
We took first place.
The Fort Worth Report also covered the winners. You can see more photos from the finale too.
Our Pitch: The Problem Every Local Business Faces
” built the pitch around one idea. For a small business, the ringing phone is everything. “
I learned this as a kid in India. I watched my father help business owners find customers with billboards and outdoor signs. When the signs worked, the phones rang. When they did not, the business felt it fast.
Today, customers look for help in a different place. They ask AI tools questions like “Who is the best plumber in Fort Worth?” The tool gives a short list of names. If your business is not on that list, the customer calls someone else.
I told the judges that I have helped owners move from billboards to online marketing. Now I want to do the same thing here at home in Fort Worth.
Why Fort Worth Businesses Lose Calls to AI Search
In our experience with local clients, businesses with clear, matching details across Google Search, Google Maps, and review sites are easier for these tools to find. If your listings are thin or out of date, you can be skipped.
The loss is quiet. You never see the calls you did not get.
3 ways to check if AI tools name your business
You can test this in about 10 minutes:
Ask the question your customer asks. Type “best [your service] in [your Fort Worth neighborhood]” into Google, Google Maps, and an AI tool. Note whether your business appears.
Match your details everywhere. Check that your business name, address, and phone number are the same on your website, your Google Business Profile, and your review sites.
Read your reviews. Look at how many you have, how recent they are, and whether you reply. Customers read these, and so do the tools that recommend businesses.
If something looks off, fix the basics first. If you want help, we can run the check for you.
How We Help Local Service Businesses Get Found
We help you show up where your customers look. That includes:
- AI search visibility
- Local SEO for Google Search and Google Maps
- Website design
- Google Ads and Meta Ads
- Video production
We started in 2020. Today our team of 22 serves more than 80 businesses, and we hold a 4.9-star rating across more than 320 reviews. We have grown without outside capital, and we are profitable.
What this looked like for a DFW landscaper
One of our landscaping clients saw his phone go quiet every winter. Each year he had to let his crew go.
After we worked together, his business reached the top of local search and got three times as many calls. He now books winter jobs like tree trimming, planting, and drainage work. He keeps his whole crew all year.
Want to see where your business stands?
Our free marketing audit (worth $499) shows where your business appears in Google Search, Google Maps, and AI answers. You will know what to fix first.
Request your free marketing audit or call us at +1 (702) 238-5098.
Our Plan for the Prize: Every Dollar Stays in Fort Worth
We have an office in Fort Worth, but we work with only three clients here today. We want that number to grow. Our goal is 20 Fort Worth clients by the end of 2027.
We will spend the full $10,000 locally:
- $5,000 for a Fort Worth ambassador who builds relationships with local owners
- $2,000 for a local videographer
- $1,500 for local business memberships
- $1,500 for workshops and sponsorships
Tarrant County had 47,656 employer businesses in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. We want more of them to be found online.
Meet All Three 2026 Winners
Three Fort Worth founders took home prizes:
- First place ($10,000): ICONIER Digital Marketing Agency
- Second place ($6,000) and Perfect Pitch winner: Dr. Julie Erwin of Panther City Eye Care. Her optometry practice serves families in the Riverside neighborhood. Audience votes chose her pitch as the crowd favorite.
- Third place ($4,000): Kaity Stone of Open-Minded Counseling. Her practice offers inclusive mental health and wellness services.
Together, we show the range of small businesses growing in Tarrant County, from marketing to eye care to counseling.
Ready to Get Found in Fort Worth?
Thank You to the People Behind the Finale
We are grateful to the partners and judges who made the night possible:
- Emcee: 2024 winner Shawna Murphy of StyleSmart VA
- Remarks: Mayor Mattie Parker
- Coaching partners: Accelerate Fort Worth Foundation, Ensemble Coworking, Foundations Entrepreneur Development Company, SCORE Mentors, TechFW, and TEI Consulting
- Judges: Richard Chance of TCC Corporate Solutions and Economic Development, Michael Doss of the City of Fort Worth, Erika Hersh of LiftFund, Dustin Logan of PrimoSure, Caitlin McMinn of TechFW, and Sawyer Williams of Frost Bank
About ICONIER Digital Marketing Agency
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Rishabh Sharma (Rish)
Founder, ICONIER Inc.
Over 11 years of experience in managing digital products with a specific focus on branding, lead generation, and delivering custom IT Solutions. Graduated from the University of London (U.K) in Business & Management. Rish saw the opportunity to improve and digitalize operations for small and large businesses by providing simple and innovative online solutions.
