Locals can pitch best business ideas in upcoming ‘Shark Tank’ style competition, winners to receive cash awards

The Greater Owensboro Pitch Competition (GO Pitch), will feature local residents pitching their best business ideas to Owensboro’s sharks, local entrepreneurs, community stakeholders, and investors.

A “Shark Tank” style pitch competition is coming to Owensboro-Daviess County on May 5. The Greater Owensboro Pitch Competition (GO Pitch), will feature local residents pitching their best business ideas to Owensboro’s sharks, local entrepreneurs, community stakeholders, and investors.

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation (GOEDC) and the Owensboro Small Business Development Center are working together to host the competition.

“This is an exciting way for Owensboro and Daviess County to showcase the great entrepreneurial ideas that come from our community,” said Jamie Johnson, Center Director at the Owensboro Small Business Development Center. “This should be a really fun event, with local teams pitching their start up or next great business idea to Owensboro’s sharks, who will then be asking questions and giving feedback.”

GO Pitch is now open for submissions. Anyone that would like the chance to pitch in front of the sharks on May 5 can fill out the Intent to Submit form on the GO Pitch website. All submissions will then be asked to provide a business plan by April 1. A committee of local community stakeholders will review the business plans and select the top five to pitch at the competition. 

According to the competition website, “The business plan needs to be a brief document that outlines the fundamental problem and solutions the business is addressing. The purpose of the document is to convince the reader that the business is viable and could operate in the real world. It includes the most interesting and important aspects of the business.”

More specific details can be found on the website. 

The businesses that pitch will be eligible to win a first-place prize of $5,000, and second place will receive $2,500. There will also be a “Crowd Favorite” award of $1,500 picked the day of the competition by the audience. 

“The GOEDC believes there is a growing entrepreneurial community in Owensboro,” said Brad Davis, Vice President of Business Development at the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. “We are hoping that the GO Pitch competition along with the prize money offered will continue to build and nurture that community of entrepreneurs.”

Visit edc.owensboro.com/gopitch for additional details, eligibility requirements, and submission information. For additional questions, contact Jamie Johnson at 270-709-2338 or [email protected] or Brad Davis at 270-926-4339 or [email protected]

Other community partners for the competition include the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, Visit Owensboro, the City of Owensboro, and Daviess County Fiscal Court.