Momentum 5×5 Pitch Competition accepting applications

Momentum 5×5 Pitch Competition accepting applications

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Beginning May 25, anyone who has a small business or an entrepreneurial idea for Mason County may enter the 2023 Momentum 5×5 Competition, which will award $5,000 in startup funds to one winner.

Both nonprofit and for-profit businesses or organizations are encouraged to enter the contest. A complete, written business plan is not required to submit an entrepreneurial idea. 

“We encourage any small business to enter this competition,” said Brandy Miller, president/CEO of the Chamber Alliance of Mason County. “It’s a great way to earn seed money for your business idea – and making connections with mentors and the business community as a whole is an added benefit.”

The Chamber Alliance of Mason County administers the Momentum 5×5 program to encourage new business in Mason County for participants who may need start-up funds to get their business ideas moving forward. Prize money and event hosting is sponsored jointly by the Epworth Assembly and the Epworth Church Association.

“The 5×5 is one of the highlights of our year,” said Epworth General Manager Kimberly Hamm. “We love how it brings us all together for the greater good.”

Five finalists will be chosen to present their ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience on August 15 at Epworth Heights. Each entrant gets five minutes to pitch an idea. 

The winner will receive $5,000 and, new this year, in-kind gifts will also be awarded to the top entrepreneur:

• An ad in the Epworth Annual – The ad runs in a book for all cottagers. Having the ad is also the only way to solicit Epworth cottagers, via business cards, brochures, social media, newsletter.
• Invitation to have a booth at Epworth’s early-season open house to inform cottagers about the business.
• Invitation to take the stage at the next year’s Momentum 5×5 to give an update on the business to the captive audience of both cottagers and Ludington-area public.

This will be the fifth Momentum 5×5 in Mason County put on by the Chamber Alliance and Epworth. 

• The 2018 winner, Sister Bees, won $5,000 and went on to a larger competition, the Momentum Business Plan Competition, in which the Ludington skin-care company won $50,000. 
• In 2019, My Inspired Studio was awarded $5,000 in the 5×5 contest. Entrepreneur and artist, Sarah Stechschulte, used the funds for her subscriber-based, monthly creative kit which included art supplies plus online instruction. Stechschulte won another $14,000 in the larger Momentum competition with her Inspired Parties business. She now has three successful locations, all under the name Faire Heart.
• House and Harbor, a local candle company, was the winner in 2021 and opened a Downtown Ludington storefront. 
• Lakeshore Swim School was last year’s winner, and Marissa Barnett hopes to use the money for expanding her business promoting water safety in the local area.

For complete rules and information about how to enter the Momentum 5×5, head to www.momentum startup.org. Applicants will receive free, confidential counsel from a SCORE business mentor. Entry deadline is July 25.