West Central Trail Blazer Challenge

Calling all emerging trailblazers
in West Central, MN!

This is a regional pitch competition where the founders showcase business ideas to accomplished entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders from across West Central, Minnesota.

Applications for the FastLane94 Trail Blazer Challenge 2025 will open February 3rd, 2025. Selected participants will be invited to present to a panel of judges for the chance for a MN Cup advancement!

Check out highlights from last year’s competition.

“There are a lot of great people helping new entrepreneurs. This was our first pitch competition ever and it was a fantastic experience.”

Aaron Halik
Founder of Trimyxs

VIEW LAST YEARS COMPETITION

The Competition

The West Central pitch competition is open to all West Central, MN residents and businesses with plans for a new idea, new company or with a business that has been started in the last 12 months.

Contestants who wish to be eligible for MN Cup must also complete the application for MN Cup before April 11, 2025.

COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY

This competition is open to anyone that is over the age of 18 in the West Central Region of Minnesota. (see map below) College students, graduate students, business owners, and corporate employees are eligible to compete.

Date // April 3rd

Time // 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Location // Bad Habit Brewing Co. 25 College Ave N, St. Joseph, MN 56374

Apply to Pitch

ELIGIBILITY DETAILS

Submissions must be for a new company, new idea or with a business started in the last 12 months.
Teams typically consist of one to four members.
Each team must designate one point-of-contact for the competition.
In the case of an existing organization, at least one team member must be a C-level officer or director of the organization (eg, Executive Director, CEO, COO, etc) or the majority owner of the business.
Teams cannot enter more than one business plan/idea into the competition.
Teams must reside in the following counties: Becker, Benton, Clay, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, Wright

All are welcome!

Don’t have experience creating a business plan? No problem! We’ve partnered with ILT Academy to help! They will supply all finalists with an example pitch deck and entrant outline when you apply to participate.

To start the application process today!

TIMELINE

Registration Open

03 February 2025

Applicants can apply for competition and receive submission instructions. Click here to indicate your interest in the competition and start your application.

Applications Close

05 March 2025 at 12:00 AM (CST)

Teams must submit a short written application.

Video Submissions

05 March 2025 at 12:00 AM (CST)

Team videos submitted to online judges.

Finalist Notified

11 March 2025

5 finalist teams will be announced.

Finals

03 April 2025

Finals are a Live Pitch presentation in front of a panel of judges in St. Cloud, MN at Bad Habit Brewing Co.

We are looking for the next trailblazers

Advancing the next generation of business leaders in our community.

The West Central Region is committed to supporting new ideas, technologies, and innovations. We want to equip entrepreneurs, students, and innovators to disrupt the status quo and create meaningful change while creating more opportunities to address the biggest challenges across our communities.