$40,000 will be up for grabs in Columbus at this new business pitch competition

Your business pitch could earn you a share of $40,000 in funding this fall in Columbus.

Applications are open for LaunchCon, a new pitch competition and entrepreneurship conference coming to Columbus. The deadline to apply is July 30.

LaunchCon was developed in partnership with the nonprofit business incubator StartUP Columbus and Columbus State University’s D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology. It builds on the success of another StartUP Columbus pitch competition — the BizPitch Columbus event. Unlike its predecessor, LaunchCon includes the entrepreneurship conference, which is expected to draw business professionals from across the region, StartUP Columbus said in a news release Tuesday.

Entrepreneurs can apply to one of two tracks: the pre-revenue track for early-stage startups and the post-revenue track for businesses that make at least $25,000 in sales per year.

Four finalists — two from each track — will be selected through a review process and invited to the Oct. 23 entrepreneurship conference at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. They also will pitch their business idea live to a public audience and a panel of judges in a format similar to the TV show “Shark Tank.”

Leading up to the event, finalists will receive one-on-one pitch coaching from startup experts, the opportunity to network with local business leaders and investors and access to other resources.

A total of $40,000 in prize money will be awarded to two winners across both tracks.

“This new format is all about elevating opportunity,” StartUP Columbus executive director Ben MacMinn said in the news release. “Whether you’re building something new or already generating revenue, LaunchCon is here to help founders get the exposure, support and capital they need to grow.”

To learn more and apply, visit startupcolga.com/launchconcolumbus.

This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM.