Lake County opens 2026 pitch competition for entrepreneurs

The lake County Economic Development Alliance has announced the opening of the 2026 entrepreneurial pitch competition.

The Lake County Economic Development Alliance has announced the opening of the 2026 Pitch competition for local entrepreneurs.

Lake County residents with business ideas are encouraged to take the next step toward business creation by participating in the Start Garden 5x5 Pitch Night, a fast-paced, community-driven pitch competition that gives innovators the chance to turn their ideas into reality, a news release from the organization said.

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The event is part of Start Garden’s regional 5x5 pitch program in partnership with the Lake County Economic Development Alliance, the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, Oceana County Economic Alliance, and Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership.

Start Garden has a strong track record of supporting early-stage entrepreneurs by pairing capital with mentorship, community engagement and follow-on investment opportunities, the release said. Through its programming, the organization has helped launch and grow a wide range of startups.

Leading up to the event, finalists receive individualized consulting, pitch coaching and business development support to refine their ideas and improve long-term feasibility.

Inspired by the original 5x5 Night concept, often described as a “Shark Tank”-style competition, five entrepreneurs will each have five minutes and five slides to pitch their idea before a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to win a $5,000 seed investment. The format draws on a proven model that builds excitement around new ideas through public engagement and rapid-fire pitches, the release said.

The 5x5 pitch competition is a continuation and evolution of the region’s entrepreneurial programming, expanding on the strong foundation built by the Pitch North competition.

“5x5 — North brings energy and attention to local entrepreneurs while creating meaningful connections with mentors, investors and peers,” Jodi Nichols, LCEDA executive director said in the release. “That visibility can make all the difference in moving an idea forward. Events like this support business development in our rural community and we are grateful to our partners and our local sponsor, Lake Osceola State Bank for making this opportunity possible.”

The Start Garden 5x5 Pitch — North final event will take place at 5 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25 at Birch & Blossom, 112 E. Main St., Hart, where the five finalist entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas before a panel of judges and a live audience for the chance to win a $5,000 prize.

In addition to the pitch competition, the evening will include networking opportunities designed to connect entrepreneurs, business leaders and community partners.

Applications for the competition open July 29 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 17.

Entrepreneurs should submit a brief description of their business idea online to be considered as a finalist for the pitch competition. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow more time to gather community votes, increasing their chances of being selected as a finalist and earning the opportunity to pitch live on Aug. 25.

For more information on 5x5 — North or other business support resources, contact Nichols be email: nicholsj@rightplace.org.