WBEs Only | WEpitch applications due July 18th

Sponsored by

WEpitch Applications being accepted through July 18, 2022
First Place can win $2,500 | Second to Fourth Place can win $1,000

About the WEpitch Competition

Applications are now open for the WEpitch competition, a fast-paced business pitch tournament, brought to you in partnership with DOW. Fifteen WBEs will pitch their businesses to a panel of business experts on September 27, 2022 at the Great Lakes WBC Business Conference 2022 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. The Final Four finalists will be selected from the fifteen to pitch live in the final round at the Awards Luncheon on September 28 and a winner will be selected by the audience for a $2,500 cash prize!

Eligibility

Participants must meet the following criteria:

1. Applicant must be a WBENC-certified WBE in good standing and must submit the application and video by the application deadline of Monday, July 18, 2022.
2. Applicant must be registered for the Great Lakes WBC Business Conference 2022. Applications will not be reviewed if you are not registered for the conference. No refunds will be granted if you are not selected to participate.
3. Person pitching must be a female owner of the company.
4. Previous Great Lakes WBC pitch competition cash prize winners are not eligible to participate.

How to Enter

1. Register for the Great Lakes WBC Business Conference here.
2. Complete the WEpitch competition application by July 18, 2022.
3. Send a video of you pitching to scummins@greatlakeswbc.org by July 18, 2022. This video will only beviewed among the judges selecting the fifteen semi-finalists and will not be part of the live competition. You may send a Zoom file, a file from your phone or a file you know is viewable. Videos should be nolonger than 2 minutes.

Competition Guidelines and Rule

1. Pitch is a maximum of 2 minutes long in both the Semi-Finalist round and in the Final Four round.
2. Pitch is strictly the WBE speaking. These are not permitted in the pitch: slides, audio visual support, samples costumes, props (large or small including wearables). This is firm. Candidates using prohibited supports mentioned are automatically eliminated.
3. Pitch must be about your existing business.
4. WBE participants agree that Great Lakes WBC (Great Lakes WBC) may record the pitch rounds throughout the tournament. Video, pictures and recordings of the WEpitch 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 of the event.
5. All rounds on September 27 and 28, 2022 may include members and the general public.
6. Great Lakes WBC does not guarantee that any WBE participating in this opportunity will be awarded a contract or secure new business.

Selection

1. Applications are reviewed by a closed committee of Great Lakes WBC staff and affiliates and 15 semi-finalists are selected. All applicants will be notified of those selected.
2. Semi-Finalists are highly encouraged to attend all training sessions to help prepare for the competition. Great Lakes WBC has identified Kim Boudreau Smith as the 2022 WEpitch coach. She will provide a live training webinar August 17, 2022 for the Semi-Finalists. The Final Four finalists will attend a one-hour live session with Kim on the main stage the morning of September 28, 2022.
3. Semi-Finalists will present live at Suburban Collection Showplace the afternoon of September 27, 2022 and will be selected by a panel of expert judges
4. The Final Four finalists will present live at Suburban Collection Showplace on the main stage at the Awards Luncheon, September 28, 2022. The conference audience will select the Grand Prize Winner.
5. Great Lakes WBC is the final authority on rules, guidelines and decisions impacting the WEpitch competition in situations that warrant that authority.

Questions

Direct any questions regarding the 2022 WEpitch competition to Sherry Cummins by calling (734) 838-3859 or by emailing scummins@greatlakeswbc.org.

PDF verision of rules and guidelines | Download Register Now

2022 WEpitch judges

to be announced