1st Place Prize - $2,500 cash
2nd Place - $1,000 cash
+ $500 Scholarships for Professional Services
Calling friends, family, and supporters! Celebrate up-and-coming Syracuse entrepreneurs as they take the stage. Join us to cheer on our semi-finalists, presenting the pitches they’ve crafted over 8 weeks of education and coaching.
If you would like to receive free business advising, and get on the early registration access list for the next round of A Winning Pitch, register here.
Businesses must be located in the Central New York region (Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cortland, or Cayuga counties). You must be able to attend in-person events in Syracuse, NY.
This competition is designed for for‑profit businesses. Non-profit organizations that are working to develop additional income streams beyond grant capital can also participate.
This competition focuses on businesses that are starting up or operating with less than $300,000 in revenue last year.
This competition is not tailored for businesses still in the early planning or ideation stages, but as long as other criteria are met these businesses in the ideation stage are welcome to apply.
All program requirements must be complete to win a prize or scholarship.
Space in A Winning Pitch is limited, and not all applicants will be selected for the competition. Candidates will be selected at the discretion of Cooperative Federal.
Cooperative Federal's Small Business Pitch Competition, A Winning Pitch, is designed to support business owners preparing for an ask -- applying for a loan, raising investments, or other asks to expand or grow their business. Regardless of whether you win a prize, the education and individual advising provided to all pitch participants will help you work toward your strategic goals and practice pitching your business.
Participants will attend 1-on-1 and group education experiences to help prepare their Pitch application.