DBusiness
Tim Keenan and RJ King
July 3, 2024
Applications are now being accepted for Pitch Black Detroit, a pitch competition by the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) designed specifically for Black-owned businesses.
The first Pitch Black event took place in Muskegon County in 2021 for existing Black-owned businesses in response to the disproportionately detrimental effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on Black-owned businesses. Pitch Black Grand Rapids happened in 2023. In 2024, the competition is traveling to the Detroit metro area as part of the Michigan SBDC’s Uplift Michigan initiative, designed to ensure equitable access for all diverse entrepreneurs across Michigan.
A committee of Michigan SBDC staff will evaluate applications and select 25 contestants to participate in the competition. The contestants will receive six weeks of customized training from the Michigan SBDC’s Uplift Michigan initiative to prepare them for the competition and will be assigned a Michigan SBDC consultant to help them develop a 3-5-minute business pitch to present to a panel of expert judges.
After the training, contestants will participate in virtual pitch rounds to determine the finalists. Up to seven finalists will be chosen to present their pitch in front of a live audience and judging panel on Oct. 3 to compete for more than $10,000 in cash prizes.
Prizes will be processed by Eastern Michigan University’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The first-place grand prize is $5,000, with a second-place prize of $3,500, a third-place prize of $1,500, and $250 for the people’s choice award. The prize money can be used for any legitimate business purpose.
Those interested in being a contestant for Pitch Black Detroit should apply online by July 21 at 11:59 p.m. Selected contestants will be notified by July 30.