2026 Bismarck Business Pitch Challenge Application
Name of Team Leader
Team Leader Phone:
Team Leader Email:
Business Name:
Additional Team Member Names and Roles
What is your Business? (200 characters or less)
A straightforward description of the business, product(s) and/or service(s) as it might appear in a news release?
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Eligibility Factors
Is your business started yet?
Yes
No
If YES, date it became operational
Must be less than 2 years old as of entry deadline
Has your business earned more than $500,000 yet in gross revenue?
Yes
No
Category- Does the business format match with or closely resemble any of the following ineligible business descriptions?
Real estate sales or development
Franchising
Affiliate Marketing
Multi-level marketing
Licensed dealership
Club affiliation requirement to conduct business
Non-profit
Is your business currently operable in Bismarck? Yes or No. If yes, what is the proposed location if known? If no, what are your plans to locate in Bismarck in the next 12 months?
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Short Answer Questions
Please type out a short four or five sentence paragraph for each question.
Value Proposition
What innovation, service, or feature makes your business or product attractive to customers?
Target Market
Who is most likely to need or want and then buy your products or services? What are their common characteristics such as demographics or behaviors? Indicate the estimated number within your defined market area?
Differentiation
What will make your idea or business stand out in the market place? What distinguishes your product/service from your competitors? Why do your customers need your product/service?
How Do You Plan to Make Money?
Please explain revenue streams and expenses such as cost of goods, labor, etc. Describe how you will make money and what products/services will generate that revenue. List areas that you expect to spend the most money on.
What Is Your Product-Market Fit?
Will your business, product, or service be marketed internationally, nationally, regionally, statewide, in the Bismarck-Mandan metro area, or is it more specific to Bismarck? How does it fill a need or want in this market?
What Is Your Public Benefit to Bismarck?
Examples include local sales tax revenue, filling vacant or under-utilized property, increased incomes stemming from self-employment and/or employment of others, increased property tax base, social value, impact on users or other businesses, etc.
How Would You Use the Prize Money & Support Services if Selected as the Winner?
Such as to lease or acquire real estate, for leasehold improvements, equipment, research and development, marketing, inventory or other enhancements. What investment are you making and/or financing have you secured in comparison to the value of the prizes available?
What are some Risks?
What are the greatest risks to your business, and how do you plan to fix them when they arise?
What is your Five Year Plan?
Type out a general roadmap, a sentence each for your business at one, three, and five years in the future. Refer back to your response to "How Do You Plan to Make Money?" How will you grow this income stream in the next five years? Any diversification or contingency planning for this income stream strategy?
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