Cakebelle Selected to Represent Cape Fear Region in Statewide SBCN Startup Showdown Competition

When Anna Barrett found herself cutting cake at five celebrations in a single weekend, she never imagined the experience would spark an idea. That idea would evolve into Cakebelle, a patent-pending product and growing North Carolina startup designed to transform the way people celebrate life’s sweetest moments.

Husband-and-wife team Anna Barrett and Kevin Roberts, founders of Cakebelle, have been selected as finalists to represent Cape Fear Community College’s Small Business Center in the inaugural Small Business Center Network (SBCN) Startup Showdown. The new statewide competition brings together 17 of North Carolina’s most promising entrepreneurs to compete for a share of $60,000 in unrestricted startup funding, with a $30,000 grand prize for the first-place winner.

Powered by Wells Fargo, the Startup Showdown brings together entrepreneurs from North Carolina’s network of 58 Small Business Centers for coaching, pitch development, and the opportunity to compete for statewide recognition and funding.

As CFCC’s selected finalists, Barrett and Roberts will represent the Cape Fear region during the Startup Showdown Pitch Competition on August 8, with winners announced during the September awards ceremony.

“It’s incredibly humbling,” Barrett said. “There are so many amazing entrepreneurs across North Carolina. To represent Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College, and our entrepreneurial community means so much because this has truly become home.”

Building a Business Together

Barrett, founder and president of Telleo, Inc., combined her background in biopharmaceutical sales, marketing, and business strategy with a passion for innovation to reimagine one of life’s most celebrated traditions. Roberts, chief operating officer, contributes decades of experience in engineering, operations, and logistics, including service in the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Program and leadership in the telecommunications industry. Together, they have spent the past several years turning Cakebelle from an idea into a market-ready product.

The Sweet Idea Behind Cakebelle

The inspiration for Cakebelle came from an ordinary experience. After being asked to cut cakes at multiple bridal and baby showers over a single weekend, Barrett grew frustrated with traditional cake servers that were messy, cumbersome, and difficult to use.

“I remember thinking this should be the most enjoyable part of the celebration because cake is my favorite,” Barrett said. “Instead, I was constantly cleaning utensils, juggling knives, making a mess, and missing time with family and friends. I thought there had to be a better way.”

Determined to solve the problem, Barrett purchased nearly every cake-serving tool she could find, then took them apart and created her own prototype using tools borrowed from her father’s workshop.

Today, that original prototype has evolved into Cakebelle, a patent-pending serving tool designed to create cleaner cuts, customizable slices, safer serving, and less food waste.

Named in honor of Barrett’s grandmother, Annie Belle, Cakebelle also reflects a family connection. Barrett, whose first name was chosen in honor of her grandmother, said both Annie and Anna mean “one of grace,” inspiring the company’s trademarked phrase, “Cakebelle, the graceful way to slice a cake.”

“Creating Cakebelle feels like something that would make my grandmother proud,” she said. “Celebrations bring people together, and cake is often at the center of those moments.”

Bringing Cakebelle to market has required much more than developing an innovative product. Barrett and Roberts have spent years validating the market, refining their business strategy, protecting their intellectual property, and building relationships with North Carolina manufacturers to keep production as local as possible.

Supported by CFCC’s Small Business Center

After reconnecting with Wilmington’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Barrett was introduced to the Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center and its director, Jerry Coleman.

“I was amazed by how many resources were available through the Center and how welcoming everyone was,” Barrett said. “As we met more people in the entrepreneurial community, we kept hearing the same question: ‘Have you met with Jerry?’ It quickly became clear how invested everyone here is in helping entrepreneurs succeed.”

Throughout Cakebelle’s development, Coleman worked alongside Barrett and Roberts.

“Jerry is masterful at knowing great resources, being able to problem-solve, brainstorm, and make connections,” Barrett said. “He’s also really great at helping analyze risk, make wise decisions, and his spirit of encouragement has been invaluable. Entrepreneurship can be overwhelming when you’re trying to do everything on your own without a whole team behind you, and he’s really helped coach us through setbacks so we could see the path forward.”

For Coleman, entrepreneurs like Barrett and Roberts represent exactly why the Small Business Center exists.

“Supporting entrepreneurs like Anna and Kevin is at the heart of what we do,” Coleman said. “Our role is to provide the education, resources, mentorship, and guidance entrepreneurs need to build sustainable businesses.”

Coleman said what has impressed him most is the team’s commitment to continually learning and refining their business.

“Anna and Kevin have embraced every opportunity to learn, validate their market, build partnerships, and prepare for commercialization. Their commitment has positioned Cakebelle for success.”

Representing Cape Fear on the Statewide Stage

As Cakebelle prepares for the Startup Showdown, Barrett said the experience has already strengthened the business.

“The program has helped us refine our focus, strengthen our business framework, and identify the milestones that matter most as we prepare to launch,” Barrett said.

The Cakebelle team will participate in Pitch Day on August 8, where finalists will present their businesses before judges and record professionally produced pitch videos. Those videos will be released statewide for public voting before winners are announced during the September 17 Startup Showdown Awards Ceremony.

For Barrett and Roberts, the greatest reward extends beyond the competition itself.

“When we stand on that stage, it won’t just be Cakebelle,” she said. “We’ll be representing Cape Fear Community College, our mentors, our advisors, and everyone throughout the Cape Fear region who has believed in us and helped turn this dream into a reality.”

Community members will have the opportunity to support Cakebelle during the public voting period beginning September 1. Follow CFCC’s Small Business Center on social media for updates, watch Cakebelle’s official Startup Showdown pitch video when it launches, and help showcase entrepreneurship in the Cape Fear region by liking, commenting, and sharing.