CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2024 Pitch or DITCH CONTESTANTS. WATCH THE REPLAY!
3rd Annual
Pitch or Ditch
In partnership with the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce and the Wilmington Public Library, UWDE proudly presents the 3rd Annual Pitch or Ditch minority small business competition. This fast-paced pitch competition provides an outlet for minority entrepreneurs to showcase their original business ideas to a panel of judges and compete for cash prizes.
Thursday | January 25, 2024
Minority Small Business Networking Reception | 5:30 pm
Event Kickoff | 6:00 pm
Wilmington Public Library
3rd Annual
PANCAKES & PROGRESS
In partnership with the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce and the Wilmington Public Library, UWDE proudly presents the 3rd Annual Pitch or Ditch minority small business competition. This fast-paced pitch competition provides an outlet for minority entrepreneurs to showcase their original business ideas to a panel of judges and compete for cash prizes.Â
Thursday | January 25, 2024
Minority Small Business Networking Reception | 5:30 pm
Event Kickoff | 6:00 pm
Wilmington Public Library
What is the Pitch or Ditch Competition?
Pitch or Ditch is a fast-paced business pitch competition modeled after ABC’s hit tv-show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs from around the country present their businesses to a panel of potential investors and partners.
A select group of entrepreneurs will be given three minutes to pitch an original business idea and up to five additional minutes to answer questions from the judges. The judges will deliberate to decide which contestants take home the cash prizes. Participants are evaluated on knowledge of their industry, knowledge of their business finances, effectiveness of their presentation, and their ability to end on time.
Last year’s panel of judges featured local and national business leaders, including American business consultant, Dr. Randal Pinkett, the season four winner of The Apprentice.Â
We invite you to join us for this incredible pitch event as we highlight Delaware’s most impressive new entrepreneurs.Â
Meet This Year’s Judges
Our panel of judges features both national and local business leaders. Let’s meet them.
CJ Bell
Director of Economic Development
New Castle County
John Chartrand
Chief Lending Officer
Del-One Federal Credit Union
Melissa Kenny
Executive Vice President
Delaware Supermarkets, Inc.
Darren Stephenson
Director
Bronze Valley VentureLab Delaware
Meet the Finalists!
These three Delaware-based minority small businesses were chosen from a long list of applicants. They will compete on January 25, 2024 in the 3rd Annual Pitch or Ditch competition LIVE at The Wilmington Library.
My Sister’s Keeper
CPR & Phlebotomy Training Courses
Newark, DE
Coffee Rendezbrew
Coffee | Sugar | Tea
Rehoboth Beach, DE
The Hive on Loockerman
Member-based Business and Event Center
Dover, DE
MEET THE HOST
Dr. Randall Pinkett
Back for the 3rd straight year, Dr. Randall Pinkett is an entrepreneur, technologist, speaker, author, media personality, and expert in DE&I. He is the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of BCT Partners. It’s mission is to harness the power of diversity, insights, and innovation to transform lives, accelerate equity, and create lasting change.
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Event Details
Entrepreneurs interested in competing in the Pitch or Ditch minority small business competition, must complete and submit the application by November 3, 2023. If you do not complete and submit an application you will not be considered for the competition. To learn more, be sure to register for the Pitch or Ditch information session held via Zoom on October 10th, or read the event details contained in the questions on this page. We can’t wait to see you there!
Thursday | January 25, 2024
6:00 pm
Wilmington Public Library
Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t wait. Get answers to your most pressing questions about the Pitch or Ditch competition by checking out the FAQs below.
How do I apply to be a contestant?
You can apply today by completing and submitting the Pitch or Ditch application form located here. We anticipate a lot of applications so be sure to apply sooner than later to be considered.
Who is eligible to apply?
Here are the rules for eligibility:
- Competitors must be 18 years of age or older by the time the application is due to participate. Â
- The majority ownership (51%) of the business or idea must be held, managed, or controlled by a person who is of a racial minority group. Â
- The business is required to be registered in Delaware and be able to show upon request an active state of Delaware business license.
- Only businesses that have been established for 2 to 7 years are eligible.
- The business must either be a member of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce or presently or formerly be a client in the Stand By Me Minority Small Business Program.
How can I learn more about Pitch or Ditch?
To learn more about the competition, we suggest downloading a copy of the official rules. DOWNLOAD NOW.
Also, you can learn more by attending the information session on October 10th. You can sign-up for that session by clicking here.
Finally, for any specific questions or further details, including sponsorship opportunities, you can reach out to Tierra Fair at tfair@uwde.org.
What if my business is two years old by the date of the competition?
Your business MUST be two years old by the date the application is due.
Is my business required to have gained revenue?
No.
What if the CEO cannot make the pitch?
The CEO is expected to be present at the competition.
How many businesses will be competing?
There will be three finalists in this year’s competition.
What if I am under 18 and want to apply?
You MUST be at least 18 by the time the application is due.
How can I become a sponsor?
We have different sponsorship opportunities available. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please reach out to Tierra Fair at tfair@uwde.org.
How do I become a member of the DEBCC or Stand By Me: Minority Small Business Program?
To become a member of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, click here. To
become a member of Stand By Me: Minority Small Business Program, click here.
What if I have a co-owner who is not a minority?
To be eligible for this competition, a minority entrepreneur must own the majority (51%) of the business.
What are the important dates?
- October 2nd: The Pitch or Ditch application is released
- October 10th: Information Session
- November 3rd: Applicants must submit their applications by this date
- December 14th: Chosen applicants will be announced, giving contestants more than one month to prepare
- January 25th: Competition Day!
What if I can't make the information session, can I still apply?
Yes. The information session will also be recorded for your future reference.
What is the prize?
Last year, the winner of the Pitch or Ditch was awarded $10,000! We haven’t finalized
prizes this year, we are hoping to give more.
What is expected in the video portion of my application?
We want to get to know you and your business! The video portion of the application is
intentionally left vague because we want to see how you interpret and handle this
question. The video can only help your chances of being selected and cannot deduct
points from your overall score.
What if I don't have time to record and edit a 60-second video?
The video portion of the application should not be viewed as a point of stress. The video
will not be weighted heavily compared to the short answer questions. In fact, the video
can only help your chances of being chosen as a contestant and will only used as a
deciding factor in the event of a tie.
What if I still have more questions?
If your question was not answered, email Raina Allen- rallen@uwde.org for more
information.
Watch the 2023 Recap!
Want to learn more about the competition format or looking for more inspiration to get you started? Watch Pitch or Ditch 2023 to see finalists, and other participants from last year.
Get Notified!
Thank you to everyone who made the 2024 Pitch or Ditch Minority Small Business Competition a huge success. To get notified about next years event, please complete the form below and we’ll keep you in the loop.
INVEST IN minority entrepreneurs
BECOME A SPONSOR
Delaware is home to some of the world’s most successful businesses. With your support we can help build an even stronger foundation for minority entrepreneurs. When you invest in this event, you’re making a commitment to building a better, more diverse business community in our state. If you or your company want to learn more, please click here to contact our sponsorship team!
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