Applications Are Now Open!
Accelerate Your Story in the WEpitch Competition!
Ready to fast-track your business success? Applications are now open for the WE pitch competition, hosted by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. On September 23, 2025, fifteen dynamic WBEs will take the stage to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges at the Great Lakes WBC Business Conference, held at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. Four finalists will advance to the final round during the Awards Luncheon on September 24—where the audience will choose the ultimate winner. Your business deserves the spotlight apply now and accelerate your story!
Eligibility
Participants must meet the following criteria:
Great Lakes WBC is the final authority on rules, guidelines and decisions impacting the WE pitch competition in situations that warrant that authority and reserve the right to modify if needed.
NOTE: If you are accessing this document through the online application, use the back arrow in your browser to return to your application for completion. Your application is confirmed submitted when you have received a confirmation of your completed application in your email inbox.
Applicant must be a WBENC-certified WBE in good standing, at time of application and at time of competition, and must submit the Online Application (through link) with a 60-second video by the application deadline of Monday, July 14, 2025.
How to Enter
Complete the WE pitch competition online application by July 14, 2025. Answer all questions. NOTE: We highly recommend that you answer the questions in Word and copy and paste into the online application to prevent loss of information, as the application may time out. Save as you go.
As part of your online application, please include a link to your 60-second pitch video by July 14, 2025.
This video will be reviewed only by judges to select the fifteen semi-finalists and will not be shown during the live competition. You may upload a video from Zoom, your phone, or any platform that allows easy viewing. Only applications with a working video link will be considered.
If you have any questions, contact Sherry Cummins at scummins@greatlakeswbc.org.
Competition Guidelines and Rules
Pitch Timing: Each pitch is a maximum of 2 minutes long in both the Semi-Finalist round and in the Final Four round. Exceeding the maximum time results is a significant loss of points in the competition and will impact results.
Pitch Delivery: The pitch is to be delivered solely by the WBE and is verbal only. Following is a partial list
of prohibited items; slides, audio visual support, samples, costumes, props (large or small including
wearables). This is firm. Candidates using prohibited supports mentioned are automatically eliminated.
Pitch Content: The pitch must be about your existing business—an existing product, service or business
solution that is ready for market or currently in market (not a future idea or endeavor seeking an investor.)
Pitch Recording and Media Ownership: WBE participants agree that Great Lakes WBC may record the
pitch rounds throughout the tournament. Video, pictures and recordings of the WE pitch rounds are
the property of Great Lakes WBC and may be used by Great Lakes WBC in any manner, form or
medium, including the distribution of links that provide access to archived or stored recordings or
captures.
Pitch Audiences: All audiences of rounds on September 23 and 24, 2025 may include the general public.
Disclaimer: Participation in the WE pitch competition does not guarantee that any WBE who participates
in this opportunity will be awarded a contract or secure new business.
Selection
Written applications submitted online through the application portal and including a link to a video by the deadline of July 14, 2025, are reviewed by a closed committee of Great Lakes WBC staff and affiliates.
From the applications and videos, 15 semi-finalists are selected to participate in the live competition September 23, 2025. All applicants will be notified of those selected no later than July 30, 2025.
You must be registered for Great Lakes WBC’s Business Conference 2025 to participate in the competition (you don’t have to be registered to apply, but you must be registered no later than August 15, 2025 to participate.)
Semi-Finalists are asked to attend all training sessions to help prepare for the competition. Great Lakes WBC has identified Cathy Mott , MCC, ICE, owner of CWC Leadership Development, as our 2025 Emcee and WE pitch Coach for the 2025 WE pitch competition.
Semi-Finalists will present live at Suburban Collection Showplace September 23, 2025 and the Finalists will be selected by a panel of expert judges.
The Final Four Finalists will present live at Suburban Collection Showplace on the main stage at the Awards Luncheon September 24, 2025. The conference audience will select the Grand Prize Winner.
The Final Four Finalists will also advance to the virtual WBENC Pitch semi-finalist round. NOTE: Only the top prize per contestant in each round will be awarded.
