MANCHESTER, Conn., June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fusion Cross-Media, a marketing firm based in Manchester, has won Cox Business' "Get Started CT" contest, a Shark Tank-like competition in which local entrepreneurs pitched their business and product ideas to a panel of experts for a chance to win a $5,000 technology package.

Cox Business teamed up with Inc. Magazine on the event, which took place live on the show floor of the 2013 Connecticut Business Expo.

Fusion Cross-Media – which creates actionable, cross-media strategies to help businesses better align marketing, sales, and operations – was chosen from among five entrepreneurs for its product's innovation, ease of implementation, and the potential benefits to the local community.

"The success of local businesses like Fusion Cross-Media benefits the entire community, and we are committed to helping them grow," said Mark Scott, vice president of Cox Business Northeast. "We are thrilled to provide Zachary and his team with this technology package, and hope all of our pitch participants learned from this unique experience."

Zachary Schwartz, Creative Executive Officer at Fusion, pitched to the judges. Fusion's concept is a turnkey, mobile guest experience management solution that encourages restaurant patrons to engage with the establishment in real time – before they post to Yelp or other social feedback aggregators. This allows staff to respond immediately and manage the message.

This "5 Star Guest Experience" solution also connects guests via social media, allowing them to share their positive experiences with friends, creating a community around the restaurant's brand.

Venture capitalist Josh Linkner (@joshlinkner), CEO of eTouches and "Inc. 5000" winner Leonora Valvo (@etouchesCEO), inbound marketing expert David Donlan (@ddonlan) of HubSpot, and editor of The Hartford Business Journal, Norm Bell (@HartfordBiz) provided the real-time feedback to the entrepreneur "contestants." Eric Markowitz (@EricMarkowitz) of Inc. moderated the discussion.

Other participating entrepreneurs included Say it Forward+Co. of Cheshire, MeetingKing of Tolland, Nomad's Adventure Quest of South Windsor, and Great Blue Research of Meriden.

Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 300,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is one of the largest providers of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and has been consistently recognized for its leadership among small/midsize business data service providers. Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines. For more information about Cox Business, Click Here or call 1-800-396-1609.

About Cox Communications:
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for seven years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

About Inc.:
Inc., the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders. It provides hands-on resources and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. In addition, Inc. looks beyond work to address the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Inc. inspires and informs, with cutting-edge coverage that reflects its readers' energy, brashness, and imagination.

SOURCE Cox Business