Bay County, Michigan – August 17, 2023 – Entrepreneurs in Bay County, Michigan, now have an opportunity to turn their business dreams into reality with the launch of "Business by the Bay: Pitch Your Future" pitch competition. Designed to support local startups and innovative ventures, this competition is currently accepting applications. It is open exclusively to start-up or for-profit businesses that have been in operation for two years or fewer and have generated less than $1 million in revenue.
The competition has garnered the support of Huntington Bank, serving as the title sponsor and providing essential funding for cash awards. The grand prize awaits the most exceptional entrepreneur, with a generous cash award of $5,000. Second and third-place winners will receive prizes of $3,500 and $1,500 respectively. Additional sponsor support has been pledged by Bay County Growth Alliance and Wildfire Credit Union.
"Pitch Your Future" is a flagship initiative within the Small Business Support program, a collaborative effort of Bay Future and the Michigan Small Business Development Center. The Small Business Support program is made possible through American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated by Bay County.
Michelle Judd, Contract Business Consultant for the Michigan Small Business Development Center, expressed her anticipation for the program's impact, stating, "We are enthusiastic about nurturing local entrepreneurs through financial and marketing training ahead of the competition. The result
will be a captivating evening at the State Theatre on November 8th, where our finalists will pitch their ideas before a panel of judges and a live audience."
The competition consists of four phases:
● Submission: Entrepreneurs are invited to submit their applications online until August 25, 2023, at 12:00 PM.
● Kickoff: The official launch of the competition is scheduled for August 30, 2023, featuring an insightful workshop on crafting an impactful pitch deck.
● Workshops/Pitch Deck Reviews: Applicants will participate in workshops designed to provide guidance and assistance in developing the financial and marketing portions of the Pitch Deck.
● Final Pitch Presentation: The finale of the competition will take place on November 8, 2023, at 5:30 PM, with a live audience at the historic State Theatre in the heart of downtown Bay City, Michigan.
For additional details, and application guidelines, and to learn more about "Business by the Bay: Pitch Your Future," please visit contact the Michigan SBDC by email at sbdc@svsu.edu or by telephone at 989-964-4904. Follow the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/3706149866275222 . The application can be found online at https://forms.gle/EasHv63ayQoBZ3Ho7 .
# # #
