Alaska startup takes the money

SWOOP, an Anchorage-based apparel company founded by Virginia Lynn Peterson, won the top prize at the 2025 Alaska Angel Conference, securing a $100,000 investment from Alaska investors. The company designs functional, design-forward underwear and apparel built for everyday wear rather than runway display.

The win gives SWOOP real capital from Alaska-based investors, money aimed at helping the company scale production, marketing and distribution beyond the state. For Anchorage's startup scene, the result shows consumer brands can compete for investment alongside tech and resource-focused companies.

Judges at the conference backed SWOOP for both product clarity and its potential to grow from an Alaska base outward. The Alaska Angel Conference is built to connect local investors with Alaska companies they want to see expand rather than relocate.

SWOOP now joins a short list of Alaska-born companies carrying funding and momentum into the next year, a sign for Anchorage entrepreneurs that local ideas can draw serious investment without leaving the state.