If you are the master mind behind a minority or women-owned small business and often think about looking for funding from the great business sharks of Shark Tank, Buffalo has an opportunity for you.
Buffalo-area minority and women entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to win $10,000 for their businesses.
Thursday morning, Mayor Byron Brown, 43North, the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC), Excelsior Growth Fund, and the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) introduced "The Pitch."
The top three applicants of The Business Plan competition will be given the opportunity to make "The Pitch" at the official opening of 43North Week in October, a week dedicated to celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation in Western New York.
The first place winner will receive $10,000 and two runner-ups will get $5,000 each.
The event will be October 20 at the Buffalo Museum of Science from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Interested entrepreneurs must meet the following criteria:
- Be a minority or women-owned small business (M/WBE certification with NYS is not require to apply)
- Located in Erie County
- In business for at least one full fiscal year as of September 23
- Have at least one and a max of 50 full-time employees
- Applications must be submitted on time and include complete responses
The application deadline is Friday, September 23 at 5 p.m.T
To apply go to www.excelsiorgrowthfund.org/pitch.