June 26, 2024 2:50 a.m.
The Umpqua Economic Development Partnership will have the next Umpqua Growth Talks Pitch Night on Wednesday, July 17th.
UEDP Executive Director Brian Prawitz said small business owners from a wide range of industries will pitch their growth plans to a panel of judges and a live audience with a $10,000 first place prize on the line.
Prawitz said “One of our core functions is to support the entrepreneurial network”. Prawitz said, “Successful small businesses stimulate our economy and produce jobs. We look forward to seeing these businesses succeed and expand”.
A release said The Partnership received 28 applications from small business owners throughout the county through its website. The six finalists selected by the Pitch Night committee include: Brent Farmer – Tyee Landing, Clayton Brelage – Jumptastic Rentals, Lindsay Rose – Electric Rose Auto Salon, Isaiah Weiss – LearnSesh, Eric Andrews – Say Yes to the DJ and Jody Brown – The Atom Bistro.
Each small business owner has been paired with a personal coach and will meet again a week before the big night to practice their presentations in front of one other and all six coaches. The goal is for each owner to further develop the focus and messaging of their business for future success beyond their pitch night experience. Prawitz said, “Entrepreneurship is alive and well in our area. It is encouraging and exciting to see the fresh ideas that could develop into our next home-grown success story”.
In addition to the $10,000 first-place prize, the second-place winner will receive $5,000, with $2,500 prizes for third place and audience favorite. The $20,000 prize fund comes from the business community. Major sponsors for the series include The Ford Family Foundation, Aviva Health, Con-Vey, Umpqua Community College, Oregon Pacific Bank and Lone Rock Resources.
Since launching in 2019, Umpqua Growth Talk Pitch Nights for Startups and Small Business has distributed over $50,000 in funds through the program to local entrepreneurs.
More information on applying, sponsoring or attending Umpqua Growth Talk Pitch Nights is available at www.umpquagrowthtalks.com.