2024 Main Street Pitch Competition
The Main Street Pitch Competition is a business pitch competition to help entrepreneurs grow so our local Renton downtown community can thrive. The competition includes 5 workshops leading up to a live pitch competition. By attending these workshops, you will have the necessary skills to take those first critical steps in starting a successful business or expanding an existing one.
EXTENDED Application Deadline: March 22, 2024
Workshops
Speakers: Sue Bollinger and Levi Reed, Startup425
Location: Renton Public Library, 100 Mill Ave S, Renton 98057
Time: Networking: 5:30-6 pm / Workshop: 6-7:50 pm
This is a crash course in the investment required of local small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to both compete in this pitch competition and start and/or scale their businesses: time, effort, and a little outside help. Specific topics will include basic legalities such as organization, licensing, and taxes; an assessment of skillset, risk, and needed resources; and an overview of the competition, including requirements, schedule, learning learning deliverables.
Speaker: Michael Tarino, BA, MBA
Location: Renton Public Library, 100 Mill Ave S, Renton 98057
Networking: 5:30-6 pm / Workshop: 6-7:50 pm / Business Plan due April 23, 2024
Attendees will learn how to use the Lean Canvas to summarize the primary components of a business plan. The Lean Canvas methodology will help participants think about product-market fit, ways to reach customers, creating a management system and building a financial model for their businesses.
Speakers: Brendalis Sanchez and Edith Young
Location: Renton Public Library, 100 Mill Ave S, Renton 98057
Networking: 5:30-6 pm / Workshop: 6-7:50 pm / Budget due 5/7/2024
This workshop covers the tax, audit and accounting side coupled with the funding and budgetary side, respectively. The reporting requirements, risks, and common missteps of the small business owner will be reviewed so that attendees learn the value of recordkeeping and accurate financial statements. In addition, attendees will learn how to calculate, plan for, and communicate initial and ongoing capital funding needs to afford them their greatest opportunity for successful launch and growth.
Speaker: Jonathan Blanco, Startup425
Location: Renton Public Library, 100 Mill Ave S, Renton 98057
Networking: 5:30-6 pm / Workshop: 6-7:50 pm / PowerPoint Presentation due 6/4/2024
Attendees will learn how to communicate their vision with potential stakeholders, including customers, lenders, and judges. Entrepreneurs are the consummate do-it-yourselfers: focused, ambitious, resolute. Yet a common challenge still remains: the “sell”…the effective influence of a target audience toward a desired outcome. Branding strategies, sales techniques, and presentation how-to’s will all be covered.
Speaker: Levi Reed, Startup425
Location: Renton Public Library, 100 Mill Ave S, Renton 98057
Networking: 5:30-6 pm / Workshop: 6-7:50 pm
Need assistance with your pitch? In-person coaching will be available to contestants to help refine their presentation for the live pitch in front of the panel of judges.
Location: Renton Civic Theatre, 507 S 3rd St., Renton 98057
Time: Doors open at 5:30 pm / Competition starts at 6 pm
The Live Pitch will be judged by a panel of three judges in a competition for the grand prize awards. All contestants will be required to give their pitch in-person.
Awards Ceremony: Winners of the competition will be announced following the live pitch event.
Build the knowledge and confidence you need to start or grow your business. This challenge offers an ideal setting for hands-on application of practical business tools and the ability to clearly communicate the value of your product or service and the benefits your business offers.
Three finalists will be rewarded with diverse prizes, encompassing both monetary and in-kind benefits. Potential offerings include, but are not limited to, opportunities like discounted office/storefront space, website design and development, marketing plans, legal services, printing services, graphic design services, and more.
This competition invites individuals aged 18 and above with a Washington state business license* who aspire to establish a brick-and-mortar store in Downtown Renton.
To be eligible for rewards, contestants must attend the specified number of workshops for each category, fulfill and submit written assignments for each workshop by the specified deadline, whether or not attendance is obligatory, and present a pitch at the live finale.
*A Washington business license is not mandatory for workshop participation but will be required for competition entry.
Interested applicants can register online through March 19, 2024.
Not ready to pitch your business? The workshops are open to all!
By selecting the “Workshop Attendance and Observation” option at the top of the registration form, you are indicating your preference to take the classes only and not participate in the full pitch program.
Exclusive access to competition resources—including the mentor program, workshop materials, and prizes—is reserved for the selected 40 participants.
The Competition is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void in any jurisdiction where it is prohibited by law or regulation. Competition and Official Rules are subject to modification by Renton Downtown Partnership (RDP).
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