BBB Spark Awards recipients standing on stage

Ignite Awards for Entrepreneurship

BBB Ignite Awards for Entrepreneurship celebrates emerging entrepreneurial businesses whose leaders demonstrate a high level of character, generate a culture that is authentic about its mission and genuinely connects with their community.

 

APPLICATIONS OPEN JANUARY 1st 2026

Meet the 2025 recipients

Award criteria are based on these three principles:

Character
Leaders must be teachable and open to growing with ideas. Leaders habitually seek the truth, are open to criticism, and know that their own personal development is never complete.

Culture
Purposeful entrepreneurs start businesses for more than just the opportunity to be their own boss or fill a gap in the market. Instead, they create organizations committed to serving the needs of all their stakeholders and make intentional decisions about who they align with to bring their mission to fruition.

Community
The most successful entrepreneurs understand they are part of a community and commit to supporting those that supported them. They give back to worthy causes and treat other entrepreneurs and competitors as peers rather than opponents.

BBB Ignite Award for Entrepreneurship is open to for-profit organizations located within BBB Serving New Mexico and Southwest Colorado's 43-county service area. To confirm you are eligible, contact Andres Trujillo at 505-346-5110 or atrujillo@bbbsw.org.

Businesses must be in operation for at least 6 months but not more than 5 years at the time of application. Firms need not be BBB Accredited but must be in good standing with BBB.

Eligibility

  • No active issues: Businesses are ineligible if they are subject to current government actions or BBB investigations;
  • For profit and 501(c)(6) applicants must have a “B” rating with BBB;
  • 501(c)(3) non-profit applicants must complete the Charitable Standards Evaluation process and meet all BBB Standards for Charity Accountability;
  • Organizations must have been in business for three years;
  • All financial obligations must be met;
  • Government agencies are not eligible to submit an application

Entries are evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders. Remember, since the judges do not know your organization, your video and written submission (including examples, stories, and documents) should provide a robust and accurate description of your organization's culture.

Winners will be announced in conjunction with the BBB 80th Annual Meeting on July 23rd, 2025 at Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel.

You will complete responses to application questions that demonstrate how your business meets our award criteria based on Character, Culture, and Community.  After each award criteria, you have the option to upload supporting documents (policies, testimonials, photos, etc.).

There is also a required video testimonial component, 3-minute (max.). This video should tell the story about how your business lives out character, culture and community, and why your business is worthy of winning the award. This video is your opportunity for our judges to hear directly from you. The video does not need to be professionally produced. A simple selfie video from your smartphone will suffice. 

If selected as an Ignite Awards recipient, we will need full access and rights to your video to be used on BBB's website and social media accounts. By submitting this entry, you agree to these terms.