Key Bank Business Pitch Competition
Date and time
Location
Refund Policy
Description
Calling all Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners!
Can you talk about your business in an engaging, effective way that compels listeners to learn more, and tell others about you?
Every entrepreneur needs an “elevator speech” - a way to describe your business in the time of an average elevator ride. Telling your story in a clear and compelling way is key to your success. You must be able to talk about your business succinctly and with confidence to potential clients, acquaintances, investors and everyone you meet. Mercy Corps Northwest is teaming up with Key Bank on a Business Pitch Competition - an exciting opportunity to learn, connect, compete or introduce your business to the Portland community.
Join us! Enter the competition or come listen to the pitches. New and existing businesses from all industries are welcome. Judges will include small business experts from Key Bank, the SBA and the Portland Business Journal. Additionally, Key Bank will offer two financial seminars prior to the pitch event. Happy hour and networking begins at 5pm. Join us to compete, or to listen and learn!
Pitches - 15-20 handpicked businesses will present 1 minute pitches to the audience and a panel of judges, followed by 2 minutes of feedback. To apply to pitch, check the Pitch box while registering for this event and fill out the application questions. You will be notified of our selections prior to the event.
Prizes - Awards include a $250 Grand Prize, Audience Favorite, Start Up Business and Growing Business categories.
Financial Seminars - Presented by Key Bank professionals.
Event Agenda
4:15 - 5:00 Key Bank Financial Seminars
- Mitigating Risk with Your Banking and Payment Processing Services
- From Better to Best: How to Make Your Business Bankable
5:00 - 5:30 Happy Hour/Networking
5:30 - 6:30 Business Pitch Competition
6:30 - 7:00 Feedback and Prizes
7:00 - 8:00 Networking
About The Pitch
The pitch is a simple, engaging summary of the business. Within 60 seconds, it should include your what, how & why and the following details:
- Description of your product or service
- Benefit/value to your customer
- Who your customer is, and the size of the market
- Differentiation - what makes you stand out?
In partnership with our community supporters at
Music generously donated by Mercy Corps Northwest client Stumptown DJs
Organized by
Mercy Corps Northwest works to assist motivated low-income individuals improve their lives through starting or expanding a small business. We provide funding, matched savings and other services that help clients increase their economic self-sufficiency through self-employment.
Our mission runs parallel to the mission of our parent organization, Mercy Corps : to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
Our Goals
We designed our programs to achieve the following outcomes for our clients:
- Increased income
- Asset and net worth accumulation
- Community integration
- Housing stability