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Impact Pitch: Businesses Making Communities Better

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Applications Open NOW through JUNE 30

LIVE Virtual Pitch Event October 8, 2020

impact pitch awards
  • Grand Prizes: $5000 each for Established, Early Stage and Idea/Startup Businesses
  • Audience Favorite Video Award: $1000
  • Finalist Grants: $800 to all 10 finalists
  • Business Model Award: $500 to 2 finalists from each business owner focus: women, people of color, immigrant/refugee, LGBTQ+, veteran, and rural
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IMPACT Pitch is a chance for idea-phase, startup, or existing businesses with a strong business plan/idea and a focus on positively impacting their communities to win cash prizes totaling $30,000. In addition to the cash prizes available, everyone who applies and continues through contest rounds will get something just as valuable: personal business coaching, powerful new tools for more effective business planning and strategy, and more. We offer a host of practical insights and tools to help small business owners become their most successful selves.

Business Impact NW has a mission to help small businesses grow so local communities thrive.  We do this by supporting communities of color, female, veteran, immigrant and refugee, LGBTQ+, and rural entrepreneurs. IMPACT Pitch is an opportunity for traditionally underserved small business owners who are committed to bettering their local communities to receive targeted technical assistance and finance opportunities. As they move through the contest rounds, contestants will have the support of our coaching and training staff, including planning, creating, and/or improving their:

    • Community Impact
    • Basic Business Plan & Strategy
    • Feasibility: Financials, Market Research, Sustainability Plan
    • Marketing Video
    • Small Business Pitch

IMPACT Pitch ends with the live virtual pitch event in 2020, an evening dedicated to celebrating diverse entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the Pacific Northwest. At this live event, selected semi-finalists will pitch their start-up or established businesses to a panel of judges for the chance to win the cash award prizes.

We hope to see all supporters of our local economies join us in supporting these small-business owners at our culminating pitch competition. The final round LIVE pitch event will be held virtually on October 8, 2020.

Virtual Impact Pitch
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It's Happening!!!

We encourage all current small business owners, entrepreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs with feasible business ideas/plans to apply who are positively impacting their communities.

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2019 Event Wrap Up

On Thursday, September 19, 2019 Business Impact NW awarded $30,000 to Pacific Northwest small business owners at the fourth annual IMPACT Pitch competition presented by Harborstone Credit Union. Of 76 total applicants, eight made it to the final round to compete for the title of Best Established or Best Startup/Early Stage Business and the distinction of being a small business awarded for their positive social impact. Watch the 2019 event video and get inspired to apply or join us at the 5th annual competition in 2020!

Links to:

event blog, judge blog, photos, and business coaching

2019 winners –  Headshots, stories, and links to their videos

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2019 Impact Pitch Grand Prize Winners

Yoga Wild

Best Startup/Early-Stage Business
Casey Hubbell & Kelsey Alshememry

Kids Carpentry Seattle

Best Established Business
Loren Kite

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2019 Impact Pitch Mission Award Winners

Simone Pin Productions

Community of Color Owned Award 
Annya Pintak & Shadae Jenkins

Pivotal Center

Immigrant/Refugee Owned Award
Dafna Chen & Tracy Reinhardt-Nelson

The Cura Co.

Women Owned Award 
Akiko Waters

Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters

Veteran Owned Award
James M. Helms, Nathan Dunbar & Bryan Atkinson

Girl Boss Sports

LGBTQ+ Owned Award
Sarah Wolfer

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2019 Impact Pitch Finalists

Kaffeeklatsch Cafe/Bakery

Annette Heide-Jessen

Orca Swim School Inc

Cori & Bruce Myka

The Cura Co.

Akiko Waters

Girl Boss Sports

Sarah Wolfer

PopSmartKids

Priyanka Raha

Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters

James M. Helms, Nathan Dunbar & Bryan Atkinson

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When I started the business I wrote a business plan. I thought about what my profit margin would be and the cost of goods, but to really sit down and have an exact spreadsheet and to think what’s next? What does next year look like? What does three years look like? This was so helpful. And I think that’s why the competition was designed, to get business owners who are at the startup or at the idea phase to really think those things through – each step.

Leah Brushett

Founding Owner of Mother Snacker
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2019 and 2020 Presenting Partner

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2019 Full Event Sponsors

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2019 Mission Award Sponsors

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2019 In-Kind Sponsors

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Sustaining Sponsors

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Interested in being an Event Sponsor? View our Sponsor Guide or contact alyssap@businessimpactnw.org

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