Bay City, MI — The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is thrilled to announce the return of the Business by the Bay Pitch Competition, a unique opportunity for Bay County entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners to showcase their vision, sharpen their skills, and compete for a share of $11,000 in cash prizes.
Applications open May 14, 2025, and are due by August 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Participants will engage in a series of in-person training workshops covering marketing, financials, and pitch development. Over the course of several weeks, applicants will:
- Gain practical business training from experienced professionals
- Receive personalized coaching and feedback on their business ideas
- Develop and refine a compelling pitch deck and presentation
- Build meaningful connections with local business mentors and peers
The live pitch event will take place on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at John Glenn High School Auditorium in Bay City, Michigan. Five finalists will take the stage to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges – and a live audience – in pursuit of funding and community support.
“An event like this is so exciting because we bring [business owners] forward into the community and they get to enjoy that support,” said Michelle Judd, Small Business Consultant for the Michigan SBDC. “They also get some cash infusion into their businesses, which is not something existing businesses have the opportunity to do very often.”
Who Can Apply:
Eligible applicants must:
- Be entrepreneurs, small business owners, or early-stage companies based in Bay County, MI
- Have businesses less than two years old as of November 13, 2025, with annual sales under $1 million
- Be at least 16 years old at the time of application
Note: Nonprofits, marijuana-related ventures, gambling/lending/investment businesses, those on parole, or past winners of Business by the Bay cash prizes are ineligible.
Participation Requirements:
Selected applicants must attend the following in-person workshops in Bay County:
- August 27, 2025 – Kick-Off & Overview
- September 10, 2025 – Marketing Workshop
- September 17, 2025 – Financials Workshop
- October 1, 2025 – Pitch Deck Workshop
Following the workshops, participants will submit their pitch decks for virtual judging. Five finalists will be chosen to present live at the final event. This is a great opportunity for small businesses in Bay County to train, network, hone their business ideas, and compete for cash prizes.
This isn’t just a pitch competition – it’s a growth experience.
Apply online starting May 14 at: https://michigansbdc.org/
