Business By the Bay Pitch Competition – Applications open January 7, 2026

Ready to take your business idea to the next level? Applications for the Business by the Bay Pitch Competition open January 7 and close March 4 at 5:00 PM. This is your chance to showcase your vision, receive feedback from expert judges, and compete for a $5,000 top prize.

Whether you’re launching a new concept or scaling an existing business, we want to hear from you! Don’t miss your opportunity, applications must be submitted by March 4 at 5:00 PM to be considered.

Apply Here

Who is eligible to apply?

Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and early-stage companies based in/principal location in Bay County, MI.
Existing businesses must be less than two years old (as of September 16, 2026) with less than $1 million in annual sales. The business start date will be determined by the filing date of the entity formation (DBA, LLC, partnership, corporation, etc.)
The principal owner of the business must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.

Ineligible: Non-profits, Marijuana business ventures, loan packaging, gambling, investment or lending, or where the owner is on parole.

Also ineligible: Businesses who have won a cash prize in a previous Business by the Bay Pitch event.

When does the application close?

Applications must be received by 5:00 pm on March 4, 2026.

What participation is required?

The principal business owner must participate in the following meetings and workshops, to be held in person at a location to be determined in Bay County, Michigan.

March 18, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. – Kick-Off Meeting/Overview for participants
April 15, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. – Marketing Presentation Workshop for participants
May 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. – Financial Presentation Workshop for participants
June 10, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. – Pitch Deck Workshop for participants

After completing the in person workshops, successful candidates will submit pitch decks for virtual judging as directed on August 26, 2026 and/or September 2, 2026. Dates depend on the number of candidates.

Five finalists will be selected to compete for cash prizes in person at the live Business by the Bay Pitch event, which is open to the public.