Participate in the 24/7

 Annual Pitch Contest 

Black entrepreneurs in Iowa: Win prize money for your business!

Young African American man in a workshop working with tools.

Growth can be costly.

Starting a business is hard; there’s no doubt about it. For many business owners, resources are limited, and almost every opportunity for growth requires a financial investment. Getting enough momentum to have that competitive edge can feel frustratingly out of reach.

That’s why, at 24/7 BLAC, we hold an annual Pitch Contest for Black entrepreneurs in Iowa.

A cash prize, could be the boost you need.

What you need to know.

We’d love to meet you and hear about the remarkable business you’re running! Simply apply to present a 5-minute pitch about your work and what you need to take it to the next level. All contestants will be given insightful feedback, and the top three contestants will win prize money to accelerate their growth.

Middle aged African American man sitting at an office desk, looking at a paper in an envelope

Date:

June 21, 2024
12 – 5 PM

Application Deadline:

May 24, 2024

Location/Venue:

Waterloo Convention Center 

Who can participate:

Any Black entrepreneur who is a resident of Iowa.

Prizes:

1st place—$20,000, 2nd place—$10,000, and 3rd place—$5,000.

What if I'm just starting my business?

It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re an established Iowa business, you qualify.

What if my business is well established?

We want anybody who is an Iowa business owner and is interested in pitching their business.

What specifics will my pitch be judged on?

You’ll be judged on:

Business Viability
Social Impact & Mission
Growth Potential
Financials and Sustainability
Presentation and Pitch Quality
Innovation and Differentiation
Current execution and business milestones

Who are the judges?

The judges are business owners, corporate directors who work with business owners, and financial personnel who work with business owners.

What can I expect?

Applicants must submit an online application form, including a 3-minute video pitch, showcasing their business or business concept.

The video pitch should be submitted by the specified deadline, and late entries will not be accepted.

A panel of preliminary judges will review all submitted video pitches based on the predetermined criteria.

Applicants will be evaluated on their business idea, market potential, innovation, and clarity of presentation.

The judges will select a set number of finalists who will proceed to the live pitch round.

Finalists will be notified of their selection and invited to participate in the live pitch round.
Each finalist will have a maximum of 8 minutes to present their pitch to a panel of judges.

A Q&A session of up to 5 minutes will follow each pitch, during which judges may ask questions to clarify the presentation.

Finalists must adhere to the allotted time for their pitches, as exceeded time will result in point deductions.

Will we be listening to each other's pitches?

Yes, you'll be listening to each other's pitches.

Join us!

Give your hard work a moment in the spotlight and gain a chance to be rewarded.

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Complete the form.

Click the “Pitch Your Business” button below and fill in your information to register. We'll contact you with details about your next steps.

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Prepare your pitch.

Create a brief presentation that describes the "what" and "why" of your business and how winning would make a difference.

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Be in the running for a great prize!

Show up ready to share the exciting thing you've been building. It just might be your time to take a prize home and take your business to the next level.

We can’t wait to cheer you on!

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