141
0
Fayette County’s signature Shark Tank–style competition returns, with five finalists pitching for prizes, mentorship, and exposure at the November 19 finals.
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — The 2026 Fayette Pitch Contest is now accepting applications from local entrepreneurs. Presented by Launch Fayette in partnership with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and Jason Hunter Design, the contest is a dynamic, Shark Tank–style event where local founders pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges for prizes, exposure, and bragging rights.
How it works: Applicants submit an overview of their business or concept, and a required preliminary round narrows the field to five finalists. On the main stage, each finalist delivers a five-minute pitch followed by six minutes of Q&A with the judges (two minutes per judge). Judges then “invest” StartUp Fayette Dollars in the ideas they believe have the most potential. Each judge is given $12,000 in StartUp Fayette Dollars: $10,000 to distribute among the finalists, and a separate $2,000 Wildcard to award to one entrepreneur they’d like to give an extra boost.
Who should apply: The contest welcomes entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators from all industries who have a bold, scalable idea, are planning to launch or grow in Fayette County, and are ready to pitch in person on both October 20 and November 19. Applications are open now through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at https://launchfayette.org/pitch-contest/apply-to-pitch/. A $20 application fee applies.
Key dates:
- Applications close: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Preliminary pitch round (required for all applicants): Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 4:00–8:00 PM, The Pit at Launch Fayette
- Final Pitch Contest event: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 4:00–8:00 PM, location to be announced
Sponsorship opportunities: Businesses can support local innovation and gain exposure across the Fayette County community by sponsoring the contest. Levels range from Presenting ($5,000, exclusive) and Platinum ($3,500) to Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000), Bronze ($500), and Copper ($250), with benefits such as pre-event video promotion, logo placement on event collateral, a display table at the finals, and options to serve as a preliminary judge or provide a prize. Businesses interested in sponsoring can contact Aby Habelt at [email protected].
“You’d be surprised how many great ideas in this county never see daylight because nobody’s ever given them a stage. That’s what this event has always been for. What keeps me hooked, year after year, is watching the production around that stage level up. Bigger. Sharper. More polished every time. Because more people who believe in this community keep showing up to build it. And it’s not just folks donating their time. It’s the amount of prizes and resources local businesses keep putting into this event, which tells you everything about how much this county wants to see its entrepreneurs win. And now, the investors who’ve always been out there finally have a place to see what’s being built in their own community.” — Jason Bass, Creator of Possibilities, Jason Hunter Design
For full details or to apply, visit https://launchfayette.org/pitch-contest/.
About StartUp Fayette
StartUp Fayette is a community initiative dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs through education, networking, and opportunities to grow. Its monthly series and annual Pitch Contest connect founders with the resources, mentors, and exposure they need to turn ideas into thriving businesses.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.