Goshen Chamber brings back Small Business Pitch Night

$10,000 to be awarded at the November 2022 event

The Goshen Chamber of Commerce will once again host Small Business Pitch Night on Tuesday, November 15. The event was launched in 2016 as a way to encourage small business development in Goshen. Following a two-year pause due to COVID precautions, this year’s event is the Chamber’s fourth pitch competition.   

According to Goshen Chamber of Commerce President Nick Kieffer, $10,000 will be awarded at this year’s event and will include a $1,000 “audience favorite” award.  

“One of the Goshen Chamber’s missions is to champion our community’s small businesses and what better way to do that than have a program like Pitch Night? It’s like TV’s Shark Tank but with a local twist.”

To participate, businesses are required to be located in the city of Goshen – whether with a physical presence (for example, storefront or food truck) or serving customers virtually from a location in Goshen – or intend to operate in the city of Goshen. 

Applications are are due by 5pm Friday, September 23. Applications will be reviewed by the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center staff and Goshen College Business Department faculty. Areas reviewed include:

  • Clearly defined business model
  • Identified competitive advantage/unique selling proposition
  • Specific request for funding
  • Explanation of how funding would accelerate launch or growth

Six semi-finalists will be chosen from the applicant pool to participate in Pitch Night. Semi-finalists will be required to attend an informational meeting at 6pm on Tuesday, September 27. 

A panel of local business owners will judge the competition and provide feedback and advice to participants. The winner or winners of the competition will be announced at the event. Community members are welcome to attend the November 15 event and all attendees will be allowed to vote on the “audience favorite” award.

In its first three years, Pitch Night has helped 15 local businesses launch or expand. The 2022 competition will award the most money in the history of the event.  

In addition to the Goshen Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC), Goshen College, the Greater Goshen Association, and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County have provided support for this event.

FAQs

Each person will have five minutes to pitch their idea to a panel of local entrepreneurs. 

  • During the presentation they will be notified when there is 1 minute, then 30 seconds and the dog barks when time is up. You must stop when the dog barks. 
  • The panel will be able to ask questions and give feedback on the idea. 
  • Services from other local businesses for things like marketing, accounting, and legal help will also be offered to the winner. 
  • The prize is up to $10,000. This can be awarded to 1, broken up, or not awarded at all.  
  • At the conclusion of all presentations, the judges will deliberate and make the final award.    
  • Please note that ongoing mentorship/support will be available as you get to work 

We want to build a strong local network of entrepreneurs. Ultimately, as a City and a region, we all succeed or fail together. 

  • Clearly defined problem/solution 
  • Evidence of feasibility, i.e. capital, knowledge, market potential, ability to launch/implement within six months 
  • Clearly defined business model or how does the business make money 
  • Competitive differentiation/advantage 
  • Explanation of how the winnings would accelerate the business toward launch/growth, in other words, “how will the dollars be utilized” 

Sign up your company/business for Pitch Night!

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