Battle of the Pitches
For those interested in sponsoring the awards prize pool, sponsorship opportunities are available here.
The 2022 Battle of Pitches seeks the top veteran entrepreneur pitches in Florida.
Veterans, servicemembers, and members of the Guard or the Reserves who have a registered business in Florida may submit video pitches for a place as a finalist. Sixteen finalists will pitch live, on-stage at the Expo for a chance at cash awards provided by generous donors. See full guidelines below for eligibility and submission requirements.
Submissions are not limited to those who have attended our training or other activities. Submit your video pitch and see if you’ve got what it takes to compete live for the title of Battle of the Pitches Champion.
Read all of the guidelines below, and submit your video pitch to speers@veteransflorida.org by Wednesday, May 11 at 5:00 PM ET. The finalists will compete in-person on Saturday, June 18 at the Expo.
The 2022 Battle of Pitches seeks the top veteran entrepreneur pitches in Florida.
Veterans, servicemembers, and members of the Guard or the Reserves who have a registered business in Florida may submit video pitches for a place as a finalist. Sixteen finalists will pitch live, on-stage at the Expo for a chance at cash awards provided by generous donors. See full guidelines below for eligibility and submission requirements.
Submissions are not limited to those who have attended our training or other activities. Submit your video pitch and see if you’ve got what it takes to compete live for the title of Battle of the Pitches Champion.
Read all of the guidelines below, and submit your video pitch to speers@veteransflorida.org by Wednesday, May 11 at 5:00 PM ET. The finalists will compete in-person on Saturday, June 18 at the Expo.
Minimum Requirements to Compete:
- Business owner must be a veteran, active duty servicemember, member of the National Guard or Reserves in Florida
- Business must be for profit entity
- Business must be a Florida registered business
- Annual revenue cap of $10 million
- Veterans with administrative, non conduct-related discharges are eligible to enter: honorable discharges, general discharges, and other than honorable discharges
Submission packet – Deadline: Wednesday May 11, 2022, by 5:00 pm ET
- Video pitch, consisting of the following components (the listed components are recommended but not required):
- Product Description
- Potential Market Size
- Competitive Analysis
- Branding and Promotion
- Potential Revenue
- Value Proposition
- Customer Discovery
- Contestant may use this document as a guide
- Company team photo in PNG or JPEG file format
- Submit videos with a YouTube link
- Videos should be not less than 5 and no more than 10 minutes in length
- Company logo, preferred in EPS or AI
- Signed “Veterans Florida Expo Photo & Video release form”
- A copy of Florida business registration in Sunbiz
- A copy of DD-214, letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, or official letter from branch of service/commander verifying military status and character of service
Suggestions:
- Be aware of the background.
- Wear solid colors instead of patterns when possible.
- Please test your computer’s camera and microphone before filming.
- Film your video in a well-lit room.
- Please film the video in landscape (horizontal) format, not portrait (vertical) format.
- If filming on your phone, consider using a tripod. You can purchase a small tripod and a clip for a phone that attaches to a tripod.
- If you don’t have access to a tripod, prop your phone against something.
- Most computers have software preinstalled you can use to record your presentation:
- Mac: Quicktime app
- PC: Camera app
Submission Process:
- The competitor will email Submission packet to Casey Speers, speers@veteransflorida.org
- All submissions must be received no later than May 11, 2022, by 5:00 pm ET.
Judging Process:
- Veterans Florida will view all qualified pre-recorded video presentations.
- Veterans Florida will select 8 finalists to compete on June 18, 2022 at the Orlando Hilton in Orlando, FL, based upon the Judging Criteria.
- Veterans Florida entrepreneur training partners will submit 8 finalists from their training programs.
- Veterans Florida will announce all the finalists on May 16, 2022.
- All finalists (16) will be required to present in-person their pitch to the judges. If a finalist is unable to attend the judging session, the next highest ranked pitch will be deemed a finalist and be afforded the opportunity to compete in the pitch competition.
- Judging Criteria (See Attached “Pitch Competition Judging Criteria”).
- Winners will be announced at the live event on June 18, 2022.
- Award prize amount to be announced later. Awarded funds will be paid to the registered Florida business of the winners.
Wrap up:
- Rehearse your pitch.
- Remember to have a really good hook for your pitch. Is there a story you can tell that illustrates the problem you are trying to solve? Why are you passionate about solving this problem?
- Look squarely towards the camera during your presentation. You may need to glance at notes periodically, but avoid reading them word for word.
- Dress for success.
- Test video sound and lighting.
- Polish your presentation slides or skit.