Local current and aspiring entrepreneurs are preparing to pitch their business ideas during the Huntersville BIZ Café Pitch Competition being held Saturday, August 4th at 11am at The Huntersville Neighborhood Service Center, 830 Goff Street.
NORFOLK, VA – Local current and aspiring entrepreneurs are preparing to pitch their business ideas during the Huntersville BIZ Café Pitch Competition being held Saturday, August 4th at 11am at The Huntersville Neighborhood Service Center, 830 Goff Street. The public is welcome to attend and cheer on the next set of Norfolk entrepreneurs.
The Huntersville BIZ Café three-part series taught residents how to start businesses with low start-up costs utilizing their skills and talents. The series targeted residents in the greater Huntersville community and included outreach to residents in the St. Paul’s Area.
“The work the city is doing to provide guidance and resources, through the Biz Café series, for both new and existing businesses, is valuable to the City of Norfolk,” said Mayor Kenneth Alexander. “Each Biz Café is customized to meet the growing needs of Norfolk’s diverse economy and the Huntersville Biz Café is no different.”
“We are helping residents start low-barrier to entry businesses,” said Aleea Slappy, Business Development Manager. “We want them to think about a business they can start tomorrow that will meet a specific need and utilize their current skill set.”
During the Huntersville BIZ Café Pitch Competition, five micro-grants of $500 will be awarded to entrepreneurs. Participation in the two previous Huntersville BIZ Cafés held in June and July served as a pre-requisite for submitting an application for the pitch competition. A panel of judges (local entrepreneurs, business and community leaders) will determine the winners. One important question that each pitch must include is what problem the entrepreneur will solve through their product or service offering.
During Part 1 and 2 of the series, Café’ participants learned what should go into a business plan and how to deliver an effective pitch. During mastermind sessions with business leaders and other entrepreneurs, participants drafted their one-page business plan and business pitch. “The mastermind sessions allow the entrepreneurs to build their social capital,” Aleea Slappy said. “They increased their network and connected with others who are on a similar journey.”
The BIZ Cafés in Norfolk are a component of the city’s Small Business Initiative operated through the Department of Economic Development. The Initiative was designed to support the start and growth of small businesses in Norfolk. The Huntersville BIZ Café series and Pitch Competition was offered in partnership with Opportunity Inc. with financial support from Sun Trust Bank.
For more information on all the BIZ Cafés and to learn how to start a business in Norfolk visit:
https://www.norfolkdevelopment.com/business-assistance/starting-a-business