Small Business Pitch’n Pontiac | Informational Sessions

The 2023 Pitch ‘N Pontiac Competition provides new and existing small for-profit business owners in the food, lifestyle, healthy living, IT/technology, and other industries the unique opportunity to pitch their idea and gain valuable, on‐the‐spot insight to launch and grow their businesses.

Five finalists will be selected to participate in our 2023 Pitch ‘N Pontiac Competition. The Live Pitch will take place on May 4th, 2023. This exciting event allows the finalists to pitch their idea to a panel of industry experts and members of the Pontiac business community. The winners will receive monetary and consulting resources to move their businesses forward!

Informational Sessions

Register to attend one of the following

Friday March 3, 2023 | 10AM- 11AM 
Pontiac Public Library | 60 E. Pike St #2225, Pontiac 48342

Tuesday March 7, 2023 | 10AM- 11AM
Pontiac Public Library | 60 E. Pike St #2225, Pontiac 48342

Thursday March 16 | 6-PM-7PM  
Pontiac Public Library | 60 E. Pike St #2225, Pontiac 48342

A Zoom- (Virtual) Session | Saturday March 18, 2023 | 10AM- 11AM

Important Competition Dates

1. Applications are available starting Wednesday March 1^st, 2023.
2. Application Deadline: March 31^st, 2023, at 11:59pm
3. Announcement of Finalists on CEED Lending website:  April 7^th, 2023
4. Pitch Prep Workshops for Finalists:  April 24^th, 27^th & May 2^nd,2023 (Required attendance by finalist)
5. Pitch ‘N Pontiac Live Competition: May 4^th, 2023

Eligibility / Requirements

• Company must be associated with the Food Industry, Lifestyle, Healthy Living, IT/Tech, or other industries
• Business must be headquartered in Pontiac
• Business Stages: start up – existing business
• Nonprofits and low‐profit limited liability companies (L3C) are ineligible
• Franchises are ineligible
• Business must be registered with the State of Michigan and City of Pontiac by April 7^th (Announcement of Finalist)
• One application per business, per owner/co-owner (An owner cannot submit for more than one business)
• Previous winners are ineligible (business and/or  owner)

Pitch format

• Five minutes for pitch, and a 5-minute Q&A with judging panel

Prizes

1^st Prize New Business — $30,000 + Consulting Hours
1^st Prize Existing Business — $30,000 + Consulting Hours
2^nd Prize People’s Choice — $30,000 + Consulting Hours

Next Steps

1. Attend one of the informational sessions for any questions
2. Apply online at greatlakeswbc.org/pitch-n-pontiac

If you are selected as a finalist

If you are chosen as a finalist, you will receive an email AND phone call with specific instructions about dates, locations, and times.

**YOU MUST RESPOND WITHIN 48 HOURS OF NOTIFICATION or lose your opportunity
** Please refer to greatlakeswbc.org/pitch-n-pontiac for Pitch ‘N Pontiac competition updates.

‐ If you have any questions, please send an email to: info@miceed.org

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