$125,000 Cash Prizes Awarded at Beltline Pitch Competition

Inspiring, exciting, and downright fun, the Atlanta Beltline Business Solutions Office (BSO) hosted its first annual Small Business Pitch Competition on December 5. Six business graduates of Beltline programming— Beltline Business Ventures, a business accelerator, and Atlanta Beltline Marketplace, a business incubator—pitched their business to a jury and live audience, vying for cash prizes totaling $125,000.

Designed to showcase graduates of Beltline programs to investors and business leaders and support their growth through capital investments, the Pitch Competition offered a high-energy evening of networking, celebration, and product samples. Surrounded by friends, family, classmates, and the community, including Councilmember Jason Dozier, Cococakes by Coco, El Ponce, FiNCA to FiLTER, iwi fresh, PAWS (Peace and Wellness for Dogs), and Pepper’s Hot Dogs presented how they would use the cash prize to grow their business and answered questions from the jury about their business plan and operations.

Pitches included opening franchises, buying carts to expand through pop-up activations, investing in their employees, and developing their marketing support strategy. While all six businesses walked away as winners, El Ponce was awarded the top prize of $45,000.

Pitch Competition Winners:

• El Ponce: $45,000

• Pepper’s Hot Dogs: $30,000

• PAWS: $20,000

• FiNCA to FiLTER: $15,000

• iwi fresh: $10,000

• CocoCakes by Coco: $5,000

“This was a momentous evening,” shared Natalie Jones, Beltline Business Solutions Office project manager and visionary of the event. “All of these businesses were already operating, but they chose to go above and beyond to take their business to the next level—going through Beltline Business Ventures or Beltline Marketplace—and then doing the legwork to compete in the Pitch competition. It was an inspiring night, and I am so proud of what these entrepreneurs have accomplished.”

“The Pitch Competition is the fulfillment of our promise to provide support, including capital, to our small businesses and entrepreneurs following the passage of the Special Service District,” stated Clyde Higgs, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO. “Every finalist who pitched did an outstanding job. They are part of what makes the Beltline’s economic ecosystem so great, and we look forward to continuing to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs like them to thrive.”

The BSO is the leading hub of expertise, guidance, and collaboration for small businesses around the Beltline. It delivers tailored support services to small businesses looking to expand on the Atlanta Beltline, including direct one-on-one assistance, our cohort-based business accelerator, Beltline Business Ventures, access to our Partner Referral Network, and more.

To stay informed about the upcoming call for applicants for Cohort 4 of Beltline Business Ventures or other business opportunities, visit: https://beltline.org/work/small-business/