THATCHER — Matthew Artman had an idea on how to help hunters and birders see better in the field.
Thanks to Moonshot and the Small Business Development Center at Eastern Arizona College, he’s one step closer to making his dream a reality.
Artman took first place and $2,500 for his pitch for his business Arcane Gear, which produces a shroud to be used with scopes and binoculars, cutting down sun glare for the users.
“The next step would be to get us off the ground, and begin marketing, build our (web)site and start selling our product,” Artman said.
He’s already contracted with a manufacturer — Sonora Stitch based in Tucson — and he’s designed his own camouflage patterns for woods and desert.

– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Artman, who partners in his Arcane Gear business with his wife, Jaime, will get one more chance at free money for his business, when they travel to Cottonwood on Aug. 2, to join the 14 other area winners for the Moonshot Pitch Finals. There the winner will receive $10,000, with $5,000 going to the fan’s choice.
Moonshot is similar to the TV show “Shark Tank,” where entrepreneurs pitch their businesses. However, instead of selling a portion of their business to investors, the business owners receive input on improvements to make and have the chance to win money to help start or grow their business.
Taking second place and $1,500 Friday was Revive Innovations. Owners Trinity and Mariyah Bejarano were seeking money for signage for the new building they purchased in Safford’s Downtown.

– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Third place and $1,000 went to Marcy Gonzales, whose new business, Hexa Techs, is opening Aug. 1. Hexa Techs offers IT services to commercial accounts and Gonzales said she has her first customer, Safford Unified School District.

– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
A total of 10 entrepreneurs pitched for the judges Friday, including:
- Jennifer Winiecki, who wants to develop Putt Putt Llama, an indoor mini golf attraction in Morenci
- Sheri Volpi-Crawford, who has patented a magnifying cling for mirrors to help women with make-up she calls Magnificent Me
- Ashley Free, who is starting Miriam Gazette, which will create, curate and distribute content especially for women via social media
- Tasha Layton, who is starting Learn Your Liberation, a wellness service involving yoga, hypnotherapy and coaching
- Celeste Goetz, who is adding a new product to her existing business, Whimsy Balloon Creations, called Snack Lifts, a basket with balloons, and homemade and store-bought edible items
- Laura Bernal, who is seeking to develop an indoor roller skating rink called Rattleskate Company
- Christopher Bernal, who pitched Lunch Box Crew, healthy pre-packaged lunch items for those unable to leave job sites, such as miners and construction workers

– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Judges for Friday’s Moonshot pitch included Robert Theobald, with the Arizona Commerce Authority; Brandi Szymanski, with the Community Investment Corporation; Hannah Colvin, with the Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU; and Kiersten Hathcock, with Moonshot.