Sponsors and applicants are being sought for a new event being sponsored by the Callaway County Chamber of Commerce, according to Tamara Fitzpatrick, executive director.
"Our goal is to make this a reoccurring event in Callaway County to support local entrepreneurship and innovation," Fitzpatrick said. "This is just another way to help identify, grow and invest in our own home-grown businesses in Callaway County."
The inaugural Show-Me Innovation Business Pitch Competition will be on Nov. 7 at Callaway Electric Cooperative in Fulton.
The pitch competition and awards ceremony will be the crowning event in a series of entrepreneurial prep courses and mentorship development sponsored by the Chamber.
"We are having 'Adopt an Innovator' classes, a five-week course, for people with existing businesses who want to expand or people who have ideas for new businesses," said Fitzpatrick, adding the classes start Oct. 5 and the cost is $225.
The schedule of events will be announced soon, she said. Competitors in the Nov. 7 pitch competition do not have to take the five-week course, she added.
"We only have 25 spots," she said of the course. "What's really cool about 'Adopt an Innovator" is it gets people thinking about who they're serving so they can decide is this a really good idea or not?"
Participants in the business pitch competition will compete for cash prizes and other incentives to be awarded to individuals or groups who pitch a new business concept, product or service to an expert panel of judges. The competition is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to network with other business professionals and gain exposure for their business ideas before potential customers and investors. The event will be open to the general public.
Donations will be accepted for gifts, prizes and food appetizers to support the event. Persons interested in participating may contact Lisa Martin at [email protected].
"She's doing the planning and organizing of it," Fitzpatrick said.
Details will be posted on the Callaway Chamber of Commerce website, www.callawaychamber.com.
