POLKTON — South Piedmont Community College’s Small Business Center will lead the 2021 “53 Ideas Pitch Competition” for residents across the region to submit business ideas.
The pitch competition is supported by Fifth Third Bank. Individuals ages 16 and older from Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties will have 53 seconds to pitch an idea in a video submission. For those who do not have access to technology, you may visit the small business center at South Piedmont’s Tyson Family Center for Technology in Monroe to access a computer.
Small Business Centers located in community colleges across the southwest region will offer free resources to those who enter. You may get training and coaching on how to pitch, financing, forecasting and general business.
Judges will review all the submissions and announce the top 53 by June 1. These top entrants will receive a $50 award and the opportunity to advance in the competition.
The top 53 will then participate in a closed virtual pitch event, where the judges will narrow the field down to a top 10 by July 28. Each of the top 10 participants will received $250 and go on to compete on a virtual stage for the top awards.
First place receives $10,000, second place $5,000 and third place $2,500 in seed funding to help turn their ideas into a viable business.
The 53 Ideas initiative will expand upon the community’s innovative ideas while providing everyone an equal chance to share their ideas, test viability and compete for funding source.
The pitch competition addresses the income inequality and equity through entrepreneurship by providing access to capital, training resources and connections to help anyone.
“We are committed to supporting entrepreneurship across Charlotte and throughout North Carolina,” Joel Dancy, Vice President of Community and Economic Development for Fifth Third Bank, said in a press release. “We are very excited to again be supporting 53 Ideas Pitch Competition because it not only helps in the short term with access to capital for the winners, but also in the long term through financial education for all participants.
Video submissions are due by May 31. For more information and to upload your video, go to 53ideas.com.
