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 2023 will open March 1st, 2023. Selected participants will be invited to present to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $5,000!
Calling all emerging trailblazer’s
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 2023 will open March 01st, 2023. Selected participants will be invited to present to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $5,000!
“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
The Competition
You could win $5,000 to develop your idea
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.
There are two divisions of competition with multiple levels of cash prizes. The Adult (18+) Division will have a top prize of up to $5,000, and up to a $2,500 top prize in the Youth Division. One top finisher in both the youth and adult divisions may be selected to receive automatic semifinalist status in the University of Minnesota’s prestigious MN Cup Startup Competition.
Contestants who wish to be eligible for MN Cup must also complete the application for MN Cup before April 13, 2023.
YOUTH DIVISION
(9-12th Grade)
This competition is open to all high school students 9 -12th grade in the West Central Region of Minnesota. (See map below)
Date // April 20th
Time // 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Location // ILT Studios Davidson Opera House
113 5th Ave S. St. Cloud, MN 56301
ADULT DIVISION
(18+)
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 in this division.
Date // April 20th
Time // 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location // ILT Studios Davidson Opera House
113 5th Ave S. St. Cloud, MN 56301
ELIGIBILITY
- 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 student or team member as the team leader and point-of-contact for the competition.
- Youth teams cannot include non-student members.
- 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
01 March 2023
Applicants can apply for competition and receive submission instructions. Click here to indicate your interest in the competition and start your application.
Submission Close
03 April 2023
Teams must submit a 1 page description of their idea and 5 min team video.
Online Judging
04 April 2023 – 05 April 2023
Judges will score submissions in the youth and adult division.
Finalist Announcement
06 April 2023
5 finalist teams will be announced for each division.
Finals
20 April 2023
Finals are a Live Pitch presentation in front of a panel of judges in St. Cloud, MN at ILT Studios Davidson Opera House.
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.
“This is about giving entreprenuers shots, that don’t normally get shots.”
Clare Richards
Co-Founder, Impacks
emerging startup entreprenuers trained
*since Nov 2020
New Startup launched across West Central, MN
*since Nov 2020
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Initiative Foundation
West Central Initiative
Downtown Moorhead Inc.
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University
St. Cloud State University
City of St. Cloud
Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission
Entrepreneurship Center, Concordia College
University of Minnesota, Morris
Get in Touch
One last great reason why you should get in touch with us and here’s how you can
or just email us at hello@iltstudios.com