PitchBR is bringing an Shark Tank-style entrepreneurial pitch event to Baton Rouge this year and has up to $250,000 up for grabs for budding entrepreneurs.
The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 12 at Club 1913, 336 3rd St., in downtown Baton Rouge. Networking will begin at 5 p.m. with pitches to start at 5:30 p.m., according to a news release.
“An engaged, excited culture is an important part of a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Stephen Loy, PitchBR representative and entrepreneurship promoter. “Through PitchBR, we will provide Baton Rougeans an outlet to build enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, and will give everyone a chance to become a part of a start-up success story.”
Three entrepreneurs will have five to seven minutes each to sell their business ideas to a panel of judges, who will select a winner to pitch again at a November finale, where Baton Rouge venture organization Innovation Catalyst will help choose the best pitch.
According to the release, Innovation Catalyst will advance the winner of the November event to a private due-diligence phase, where the individual(s) could receive up to $250,000.
Attendees will also provide feedback or votes to the entrepreneurs. A group of private, public and nonprofits leaders formed PitchBR formed this year.
In a news release, the group says “one goal of PitchBR is to make entrepreneurship more accessible to everyone, regardless of status or circumstance.”
This isn’t the first entrepreneurial event to take place in Baton Rouge. Brothers Reed and Riley Stephens took home the first place award and $8,250 at the Student Incubator’s Venture Challenge that took place earlier this month.
SeNSEBR hosted several pitch events for entrepreneurs in the film industry and business in the past.
