JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Twelve aspiring and current small business owners made their pitches to a panel of judges as part of the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce’s biannual entrepreneur pitch competition.
Four contestants were awarded prizes of business seed money between $500 and $2,000.
Organizers say that regardless of who wins, the annual competition teaches participants important skills.
“What they really win is takeaways of how to really be a business owner and an entrepreneur,” said Cooper Reeves, director of marketing for the Chamber. “You know, pitch competition is certainly exciting, but we just call that an added benefit. The real prize is getting to go through the course and learning from current business owners out in the community, but also their fellow classmates who are also striving to build their businesses and kind of make a name for themselves.”
First place went to Made on Elk, a female-owner pottery and art studio in Elizabethton, with a prize of $2,000.
Second place went to Blue Beez – The Label, a custom and altered clothing business, with a prize of $1,500.
Royal Red Stew, a product of Comfort Foods, won third place with a prize of $1,000.
Fourth place went to Recovery Taxi, which provides transportation to recovering addicts, with a prize of $500.
Source: Johnson City Chamber holds biannual entrepreneur pitch competition
