News Flash

Oct. 2, 2019 - Ready to move your business idea from concept to launch? Start Peninsula allows you to pitch your idea, get some help refining it, and potentially earn one of three  $5,000 prizes.

This year's Start Peninsula competition will be held Nov. 1-3 at the McGrew Towers Conference Center at Hampton University. Pitchers will be able to network with community members and mentors that can provide business solutions and answers for early early stage companies. This is a fun-filled weekend with 7 free meals, personalized feedback, and 2 keynote speakers, venture capitalist Warren Haber Jr. and Erica McMannes, cofounder of Instant Teams.

On Friday, 30 people will have 90 seconds to pitch their business idea, and ten will move on to the final round on Sunday. In between, Saturday is dedicated towards helping startups build their ideas, and experts in legal, marketing, operations, finance, communications and more are present to assist entrepreneurs. he Sunday's pitches are more formal, with props or names,  5 minutes to present and another 5 minutes of questions from the judges. 

Three winners will each get a $5,000 prize -- but many say the networking, mentoring and support is one of the main benefits.

Want a chance to perfect your pitch before the event? Sign up for a "Pitch Perfect" workshop this month. 

Register to pitch your idea, or get a ticket to attend.

START Peninsula has been held annually in different Peninsula localities since 2012. It began as an informal entrepreneurial start­up event held in the fall and produced by the Peninsula Technology Incubator. The now-annual event helps start-up businesses and entrepreneurs refine their pitches and compete for prizes that include cash as well as business counseling, office space and other assistance. It is funded by the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg and the counties of James City and York.