STEP
1

Read all rules and information below concerning this year's Pitch competition to determine if you qualify and would like to be considered for The Pitch 2025. Participants must be a start-up with an idea or a have an existing small business that is 2 years old or less that they want to grow.

Record your video presentation of you giving your pitch. You will have the option to send us a Google Drive link, Dropbox link, YouTube link, etc...  If you do not have a way to post your video and send us a link, we will provide you with a link to upload your video to us.

STEP
2

Fill out the online application <NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS> before the deadline on May 9, 2025, at midnight (the application includes a place to provide a link to your video or you may select for us to send you a link to upload your video to us).

Those that are selected will be notified the week after the deadline.

Judging will be based on the business information you provide in the application and your pre-recorded video presentation. Judges for the competition will include angel investors and select entrepreneurs.

STEP
3

If selected, you will then work with a chosen mentor during the time period of three sessions to be prepared for The Pitch on Monday, June 16, 2025 (public is invited) where entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to pitch their venture to a panel of judges, which includes select entrepreneurs, investors, and entrepreneurial service providers, and win cash and in-kind service-based prizes.

You will then pitch in person to a panel of judges where winners will be chosen.

Winners and participants will also have the opportunity to be selected to take part in the CoBuilders.

CDF & the Renasant Center for IDEAs have partnered with CoBuilders Accelerator to help strengthen their mission with startups and entrepreneurs in our area.

Participants in the final Pitch on June 16, may have the opportunity to be chosen for CoBuilders - a 12-week intensive and structured program designed to accelerate the growth of qualifying startup companies in the state of Mississippi. Up to 10 companies will be selected statewide to enter the upcoming third cohort.

Companies cannot apply for the 12-week CoBuilders cohort directly; the road to CoBuilders starts with a local partner and the Pitch is the local partner in the Tupelo, Mississippi area. To fuel the event and ensure a statewide scope, Innovate Mississippi is contracting with 8 regional partners throughout the state to identify, develop & support their best startups through regional pitch events. Each partner may have different criteria for their event, but for each there will be an opportunity to win cash prizes and highlight your business to the community. After all events have concluded, the partners and the Innovate team will select the companies that will be the best fit for the main cohort.