What is Fast Pitch? the essence of fast pitch is putting your mouth where the money is...

Budding and Seasoned ENTREPRENEURS residing in Henry & Stark are invited to pitch their Business Concepts and Product Ideas to a group of judges from the business, investment, and entertainment community. PRIZES will be awarded in retail and non-retail sectors and a special price will be awarded to the best business presented by a highschool or college student.

So start polishing your WHAT IFs and your IMAGINE THATs for new apps, widgets, services and goods for a chance at cash prizes and exposure to investors, business leaders, the media and experienced mentors.

What are the judges looking for? The answer to six key questions...

So what is your business all about? In other words, what problem are you trying to solve or what is the need you are trying to fulfill?
Who will your customers be? Who are you selling to and how large is your market? What is your market's demographics profile?
How will you make money? In other words, how do you intend to get your product or service to your customers; what will they be willing to pay for your product or service?
Who will you be competing against? Is there an 800-pound gorilla out there ready to take you down?
How do you expect to stay in business? In other words, what is your competitive advantage; how are you unique; can you innovate faster than the Gorilla; do you currently have a patent; a patent pending; need one?
Who is on your team and what are their backgrounds? Explain why you and your team have the experience to succeed.

Any presentation tips?

Grab the judge's attention early. Hook them, then reel them in. This is your Elevator Speech.
Whenever possible, weave your business idea into a story, YOUR Story.
Keep their attention by being passionate about your idea, product or service. After all, you are going to make your customers better off.
Keep the goal in mind. What is it that you need to bring your idea to market? Money? Marketing? Mentoring? Production? A combination?
Be succinct, concise and clear - You only have TEN MINUTES to convince the judges to pick YOU!
Do not overwhelm the judges with technological jargon.
Stick with the highlights - speed talking is bad form.
Practice, revise. Then do it again. Take advantage of the live practice session.
Remember this outline: Elevator Speech (one minute); Exposition (using your gift for gab, an easel, a flip-chart or a sample of your product, explain your business to the judges using the tips above in 4 to 5 minutes); Explanation (this is where you will answer questions from the judges).

Where and WhenIt all takes place in one handy spot but there are several whens...

Be sure to take advantage of the WHENS. Everyone entering the competition will have a chance to attend both preliminary events before the final pitch to the judges. The first is designed to introduce the competitors to the world of Fast-Pitch and how to go about creating your PITCH. The second event is a Practice Round involving tips, suggestions and critiques from experienced judges. The final event is IT; winners will be announced and prizes awarded!

Where? in a city famous for invention...

Kewanee, Illinois will host each event at the Black Hawk East Community Education Center (which happens to house the Kewanee Economic Development Corporation) located across from Kewanee City Hall at:

404 E. Third St.
Kewanee, Ill. 61443

Directions
From the north
Take Main Street (IL 78) south to 3rd Street. Turn left. The Community Education Center will be approximately 0.2 miles on the left.

From the south
Take Tenney Street (IL 78/U.S. 34) north. It will curve to the right then continue north as Main Street. Follow to 3rd Street. Turn right. The Community Education Center will be on the left.

When?-it happens sooner than you think, so be ready...

Registrations due:

Applications must be postmarked no later than 1 March, 2012

Find-out Meeting. What is Fast-Pitch and how do I create one for a Fast-Pitch competition (If you do not attend this event, you will be at a significant disadvantage):

21 February, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Mock Fast-Pitch (practice & critique)

20 March, 2012 from times to be determined

Henry/Stark Fast-Pitch Competition:

17 April, 2012 from times to be determined

Prizes now for the good stuff...

Prizes awarded at the finals are available ONLY due to the generosity of our SPONSORS and the decisions made by our judges are at their sole discretion and will be final.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (IL SBDC) was established in March 1985 to help entrepreneurs start a new business or expand existing business.

The Midwest Intellectual Property Management Institute – or “IP Institute” – is a non-profit organization creating high-quality employment in the Midwest by identifying and developing underutilized intellectual property, primarily in the form of market-proven patents, and focusing the talent of the region’s world-class retirees on business growth and success.

PRIZE PACKAGE #1:

A winner from the Retail/Non-retail/Manufacturing categories will be eligible to win a Prize Package valued at $30,000 plus. The package inludes CASH, up to $25,000 in radio advertising from Regional Media and professional consultation from Midwest IPI and Community State Bank.

PRIZE PACKAGE #2:

A winner from the GOT AN IDEA category (for adults 18 years of age or older) will be eligible to win a new iPad, receive a $400 tuition waiver to the Black Hawk College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) certification program and up to $25,000 in radio advertising from Regional Media.

PRIZE PACKAGE #3:

A winner from the Student Category (high school and college) will be elibible to win a new iPad, receive a $400 tuition waiver to the Black Hawk College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) certification program, mentoring from a professional business consultant and "Street Sense Marketing Bootcamp" opportunity.

Our Sponsors making it all possible...Please click on the logos below to visit our sponsors on the Web.

University of Illinois Extension

SBDC

About

Henry/Stark Economic Development Professionals is the brainchild of Russell Medley, the Executive Director of the Kewanee Economic Development Corporation. As conceived by Russell, the "Pros" is a loose knit organization comprised of economic development professionals with a simple vision and plain mission. To wit: to promote the expansion of economic opportunity in Henry County and Stark County (the Vision) by creating jobs in the private sector (the Mission).

"Pros" understands that two essential ingredients are needed to create jobs (as opposed to fabricating them as government tends to do): entrepreneurship and capital. To that end, Fast-Pitch is designed to bring those two things together (i.e., entrepreneurs with physical and intellectual capital) in order to increase the standard of living in Henry and Stark Counties.

To learn more about our pros, follow these links to view their profiles: