HATCH grand prize winner Christina Funk of MetabolicCareNP. (Submitted photo)

A virtual medical clinic focusing on metabolic health is the winner of the latest HATCH business pitch event in Chippewa County.

Christina Funk of MetabolicCareNP was the grand prize winner of the annual launch competition for entrepreneurs, which was hosted by the Chippewa Economic Development Corp. on Nov. 13 at River Bend Winery & Distillery in Chippewa Falls. Funk will receive $5,000 and will be featured on the CEDC’s BEAR Discussion Podcast.

Funk is a nurse practitioner and a fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association with more than a decade of experience with metabolic health and weight management. Metabolic health is defined “as a comprehensive approach to evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of your health issues with special consideration of how all body systems and metabolic processes are intertwined.” MetabolicCareNP is virtual clinic that serves patients in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The HATCH 2024 Audience Choice Award went to Good Energy LLC, who received two tickets to the Entrepreneurs’ Rally XIII next year in the Twin Cities and $500 in printing services from Badgerland Printing.

According to the CEDC, “HATCH offers a platform for early-stage businesses to thrive, propelling participants towards equity investment opportunities. Its impact on Chippewa Valley’s economic ecosphere underscores its special place as a hub for business expansion and entrepreneurial growth.”

HATCH’s sponsors include M3 insurance and Security Finance Bank. The Chippewa Economic Development Corp. is an economic development organization that aims to foster capital and talent investment in Chippewa County. Learn more about the group at chippewa-wi.com.