New Business Power Pitch Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Press Contact: Cindy Creasy 

Cindy@CreasyWoolfolkConcepts.com  

BizWorks Contact: Iris Woodson 

Iris.Woodson@BizWorksCenter.org 

Small Business Leadership Conference Accepting Applications for  

New Business Power Pitch Competition 

Starting Wednesday, November 1, 2023 

Richmond, VA – October 26, 2023 -- BizWorks will begin to accept applications on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, for the new business pitch contest entitled The Power Pitch: Rise To The Top. The competition which will take place during the Pathways to Success, Small Business Leadership Conference, a professional development and networking event for small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, managers, and others on April 19, 2024, in Chester, VA. 

Rules and requirements for The Power Pitch can be found at www.BizWorksCenter.org. The first 20 qualified applicants will be reviewed by a preliminary panel of judges and the top five finalists will advance to the second round where they will pitch their presentations at the Pathways To Success, Small Business Leadership Conference. The conference attendees will narrow it down to three finalists through live voting and the three finalists will pitch again to The Power Pitch panel of judges. The winner to be announced at the conclusion of the conference and prizes will be awarded with 1st Place winning $1500 plus a 12-month BizWorks Virtual Membership. Power Pitch: Rise To The Top is sponsored by Chesterfield Economic Development. 

“It is imperative that the business community continue to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs, and it starts right here in our local community. This pitch competition is going to be a game changer for our entire region, and an event I look forward to planning and supporting for years to come,” said The Power Pitch originator and committee chair, Ravi Patel, who is also the CEO of SINA Hospitality.  

Pathways to Success, Small Business Leadership Conference is scheduled for Friday, April 19, 2024, from 8am to 4:30pm at SpringHill Suites by Marriott located at 12301 Redwater Creek Rd in Chester, VA. The conference is presented by Dominion Energy and tickets can be purchased here. The early bird price of $125 includes admission and access to all workshops, speakers, and the pitch competition as well as breakfast and lunch. 

The conference, which is presented by Dominion Energy, will feature nationally acclaimed speaker, coach and consultant, Christopher Jones of The Authentic Leader and Jay Markiewicz, Assistant Professor and Executive Director of Entrepreneurship at the VCU School of Business.  A morning workshop will be conducted by Steve Spiro, an accomplished retail and merchandising executive and the afternoon workshop will be led by Jay Markiewicz. 

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About The BizWorks Small Business Leadership Conference: 

The BizWorks Small Business Leadership Conference is a professional development and networking opportunity for small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, managers, and others. The conference will feature two keynote speakers, morning, and afternoon workshops plus a new business pitch competition, all designed to prepare, develop, and strengthen strategies for success.  The conference is presented by Dominion Energy and is scheduled for Friday, April 19, 2024, from 8am to 4:30pm at SpringHill Suites by Marriott. 

About BizWorks: 

BizWorks provides programs with actionable tools and structured support to entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them achieve measurable performance and sustainable growth.  Since 2013, BizWorks has provided services for more than 3,000 businesses and facilitated job creation for over 1,000 in the community primarily among low to moderate income persons. Currently, the BizWorks incubator has 26 members, of which 19 are women-owned, 10 veterans-owned and 20 minority-owned businesses. There is a path to success and BizWorks helps entrepreneurs navigate it by offering education, connections, events, and facilities.