NewBoCo has announced the return of the Entrefest Pitch Competition, presented by Hy-Vee, offering attendees the chance to compete for a share of $15,000 in prize money. Now in its second year of partnership with Hy-Vee, the competition, scheduled for June 11-12 in Iowa City, is designed to be an accessible platform for Midwest startups at any stage of development. “Last year, more than 60 businesses entered the competition, and this year we expect to attract around 80 entrepreneurs and innovators,” said Jan Finlayson, events coordinator at NewBoCo, in a prepared statement. “The application process, requiring only a short submission and a brief video pitch, is intentionally approachable for startups and small businesses alike.” A panel of expert judges will review all submissions to select five finalists, who will be announced on Friday morning during the Entrefest keynote presentation. Finalists will take the stage on Friday afternoon for the conference’s closing event. Each founder has 3 minutes to pitch, followed by two minutes of Q&A with the judges. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place, along with a “People’s Choice” award. To qualify, the company must be Midwest-based and less than five years old. Participants can apply online at www.entrefest.com.
