Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) will soon announce the finalists for the 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition, a program designed to help entrepreneurs with new business ventures.
A record 46 applications were submitted into the competition, representing 27 of Kentucky’s 54 Appalachian counties.
All applicants will receive specialized services provided by SOAR’s Business and Innovation team. This includes:
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Referrals to Technical Assistance Providers and their subject-matter experts
- Direct Services such as:
- Business Ideation
- Financial Forecasting
- Google Verification
- Website Fundamentals
- Digital Media and Marketing
The finalists will work with the SOAR team to put their best pitch forward during the competition.
Each finalist of the Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition receives a minimum of $500. The grand prize winner receives $10,000. Additionally, nearly $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.
TJ Rayhill, owner of Bluegrass Crickets, took home the grand prize at last year’s competition with his commercial cricket farm business that raises organic crickets for the bait and feed industry (and looks soon to produce crickets for human consumption).
The 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition is scheduled to take place April 11, 2024 at the historic Ashland Train Depot.
For more information, visit soar-ky.org.
