SCORE Small Business Pitch Competition to be Held in Des Moines

Small business owners in Iowa will have the opportunity to compete on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) for a total of $35,000 in prize money and national exposure in a pitch competition hosted by SCORE, the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, in honor of the organization's 60th anniversary. Founded in 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business.

60th Anniversary Pitch Competition

SCORE's 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of industry experts and win a first-place prize of $20,000, while gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to propel their business to new heights, all at no cost. This contest is designed for small business owners who want to work on their presentation skills and become more adept at selling their goods, products and services.

Applications for SCORE's 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition are currently open. For rules and eligibility or to apply, visit the contest page on SCORE's website. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2024.

In addition to Des Moines, the nationwide competition will include in-person pitch events hosted in Philadelphia, Houston and Los Angeles, in addition to an online / virtual contest. Top pitches from each of the five events will receive financial awards provided by the event's premier sponsor, Global Atlantic Financial Group, which has an office in Des Moines: $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place.

Businesses of all backgrounds and skill level are encouraged to apply – no previous pitch experience necessary! To prepare for the pitch competition, SCORE is offering small business owners three free educational webinars featuring expert guidance on how to develop a compelling pitch, get funding and scale their business. The webinars are available on-demand to registrants:

• Elevate Your Pitch Game: Getting Clients, Customers and Funders to Say Yes
• Attracting and Securing the Right Funding for Your Business
• How to Scale Your Business – Five Steps to Business Growth

Approved contestants will be paired with a SCORE mentor who will guide them through the pitch process, review their business plans and help them prepare and perfect their pitch. SCORE mentors are volunteers who have years of business experience and offer confidential small business counseling free of charge. Finalists will be invited to present their pitch live before a judging panel for the chance to win funding and national exposure.

SCORE is the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, with 10,000 volunteers serving all 50 U.S. states and territories. Since its founding in 1964 as a resource partner for the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE has helped more than 17 million current and aspiring entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business through mentoring, resources and education. In 2023 alone, SCORE volunteers helped create 31,167 new small businesses and add 152,115 total jobs to the American economy. Visit SCORE at score.org.

Global Atlantic Financial Group is a leading insurance company meeting the retirement and life insurance needs of individuals and institutions. With a strong financial foundation and risk and investment management expertise, the company delivers tailored solutions to create more secure financial futures. The company's performance has been driven by its culture and core values focused on integrity, teamwork and the importance of building long-term client relationships. Global Atlantic is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KKR, a leading global investment firm. Through its relationship, the company leverages KKR's investment capabilities, scale and access to capital markets to enhance the value it offers clients. KKR's parent company is KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR).

The Greater Des Moines Partnership celebrates the Greater Des Moines (DSM) entrepreneur community and helps small businesses succeed with one-of-a-kind resources and opportunities for networking. Find out how other entrepreneurs have found success by reading their stories and attending local small business events in the region.