Downtown Pitch Terms and Guidelines

Middle Michigan’s Downtown Pitch Competition Guidelines

Objective: To strengthen the economic vitality of Clare, Isabella, and Osceola Counties by empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses to launch, grow, and invest in our downtown communities.

Goals of the Downtown Pitch Competition

Support entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing access to capital, mentorship, and community resources to launch, expand or strengthen locally owned businesses.
Encourage innovative business concepts and placemaking initiatives that enhance the vibrancy and attractiveness of our downtown and commercial districts.
Increase investment in downtowns by attracting new businesses, supporting existing businesses and filling vacant storefronts.
Engage business leaders, investors, local governments and residents in supporting entrepreneurship and strengthening the regional economy. Collectively, this is more than just a competition - it's a local business development program with coaching, feedback and milestones provided.
Celebrate and showcase the creativity, resilience and talent of entrepreneurs across Clare, Isabella and Osceola Counties.

Eligibility Overview

Businesses that meet the following criteria and are located in, or plan to locate within a downtown or commercial district in a Clare, Isabella or Osceola county community within one year of the Pitch Competition scheduled for December 2026 are eligible to participate in one of the following tracks depending on their business status. Additional businesses must meet the following requirements:

The business will have, or intends to have, control over the site/location for which they are applying prior to application. Please note: changes in the proposed business location after grant selection may result in grant being forfeited.
The business may be operating as a for profit or non-profit.

Track 1: Launch Downtown ($5,000+ prize)

For new businesses who have recently opened or are ready to open a storefront and entrepreneurs looking for a downtown location. New businesses are those that have launched within the last 12 months or are conceptual in nature but would be officially launched within 6 months if the venture wins a prize from the competition.

Track 2: Grow Downtown ($10,000+ prize)

For businesses already present in a downtown district or corridor, businesses looking to expand their downtown presence whether through physical expansion or the expansion of promotional efforts in order to attract more customers to the downtown/commercial district they are located in, adding employees or launching new products or services.

Competition Deliverables

Application

Pitch Presentation

Evidence of customer validation

Budget

Competition Process

Step 1: Submit application deadline: September 30, 2026

Visit MMDC website link and complete the application: https://mmdc.org/downtown-pitch

The application will ask for detailed information regarding your idea including the moment you came up with the idea (what is your story, what made you move forward with your idea?), The idea itself (what problem did you identify, what is your idea going to fix?, how will this idea benefit the downtown area overall), The advantage (what makes your idea unique, better, faster, stronger?), The future (how will you spend your funds, next steps and where are you headed).

Step 2: Application Process

After online submission, you will receive communication for verification of eligibility and agreement with use of funds.

Step 3: Kickoff meeting and Presentation milestones delivered

On August 12th and August 24th, 2026 via Zoom, a Kickoff and Q&A meetings will be held. At each kickoff session, participants will receive a welcome packet with important templates, dates and details. The kickoff meeting is not required but highly recommended to ensure participants understand expectations and timeline of the competition deliverables.

Step 4: Pitch and Executive Summary Development

Participants will be given milestones to complete in three phases. Phase 1 Pitch must be delivered and approved by October 15th, 2026. Final Pitch Deck presentation to be delivered and approved by November 9th.

A strong Pitch Deck will be presented in PowerPoint format. Finalists should communicate the following details at minimum via their Pitch Deck:

Slide	Launch Track (New Business/Pop-Up)	Growth Track (Existing Business)
Introduction	Business Concept	Business Overview
Problem	What need exists?	What customer need are you solving better?
Solution	Your business concept	Existing products/services and expansions
Market & Validation	Who is your target customer? What do they say about your idea (validation activity)	Current customers + new opportunities. What do your customers think about your new offering (validation activity)
Business Model	How you’ll make money	Current revenue model + expansion of revenue
Why Downtown?	Why this community/location?	Where you are currently located, how you are planning to expand or improve your location, how you plan to impact downtown
Competition	Competitors	Competitive advantage
Financials	Startup budget & Projections	What expansion funds will accomplish
Team	Who is on your business team (mentors, etc.)	Who runs the business, what type of resources are you adding
The Ask	If awarded $5,000, we will…	If awarded $10,000, we will…
Closing	Why you’ll succeed	Why this investment matters

Step 5: Finalists announced

The top finalists will be announced in Mid-November and invited to participate in the Downtown Pitch competition on December XX, 2026. It is mandatory to present in person for the competition. All finalists will have access to the Scorecard to help understand the criteria judges will be looking for.

Required Key Dates & Sign-Offs

.Kickoff Meeting for Interested Applicants:

August 12th Wednesday evening via Zoom at 6:30 pm
August 24th Monday evening via Zoom at 9:00 am

Ideas Need to Be Submitted By: September 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm
Initial Feedback Provided by: October, 9, 2026
Initial Pitch Deck Due: October 15, 2026
Pitch Deck Review Provided: October 23 (feedback on PPT submitted)
In-Person Semi-Final Pitch: November 1-9
Finalists Announced: Mid-November
Final Pitch Presentation Mid-December

Terms and Conditions:

The purpose of the Competition is to be part of an overall program aimed at systematically enhancing community vibrancy by (i) facilitating business enhancement and expansion through mentorship and increased access to capital and ii) fostering community support through generation and nurturing of community-led ideation.

Applicant Conditions

Applications can only be submitted once. An individual who applies on behalf of a business entity represents and warrants he or she has requisite authority to act on behalf of such entity.
For purposes hereof, “applicants” includes individuals and business entities. There is no limit to the number of people on an applicant’s team.
All applications must be the original work of the applicant making the submission. 4. The decisions of the Reviewing Parties are final, including interpretation of these Terms and Conditions.
Applicants who engage in immoral, illegal or other activity that may adversely affect the image of Downtown Pitch Competition, or any of their affiliates, or other applicants, are ineligible for the Competition.
All applicants and award recipients must comply with these Terms and Conditions. Any violation of these Terms and Conditions will disqualify an applicant from the Competition, and result in forfeiture of any awards the applicant received in connection with the Competition.

Applicant Representations and Covenants

By submitting an application, applicants represent and warrant that:

The information in the application is and will be true and accurate.
The ideas contained in the application will not infringe upon the rights, including privacy and intellectual property rights, of any third party.
The applicant has a reasonable basis for holding the intellectual property that forms the basis or is integral to the applicant’s business or the proposed business submitted in the Competition.
The applicant has and will have the right and authority to submit the content in its application to Downtown Pitch Competition.
The applicant will obtain permission or a license, as appropriate, for any third-party materials, information or other intellectual property contained in its application.
The applicant will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with its activities relating to the Competition.
The applicant will not attempt to hold Downtown Pitch Competition or MMDC responsible or liable for any third-party violation of its intellectual property rights as a result of participation in the Competition.
The applicant consents to Downtown Pitch Competition and/or MMDC performing a background check with respect to the applicant and its principals.

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

Access to the applications is granted to Downtown Pitch and MMDC (including its officers, managers, members, consultants and agents), and Downtown Pitch sponsors and collaborating partners (collectively, the “Reviewing Parties”). The Reviewing Parties offer no guarantee of confidentiality, either explicit or implicit, in connection with any data or information presented or discussed by applicants. The Reviewing Parties will not agree to or sign non-disclosure agreements in connection with any application or applicant. Applicants requiring non-disclosure agreements should not participate. Before submitting their applications, applicants are urged to confirm with appropriate advisors or legal counsel that any intellectual property described therein is legally held or licensed by the applicant, is non-infringing and appropriately protected. Applicants should be prepared to provide reasonable back-up documentation for these statements, if requested. The authors of each applicant submission will retain all copyrights to the contents of their submission, provided that the Reviewing Parties may make photocopies, photographs, and video and/or audio recordings of any data or information divulged, presented, or discussed by any applicant throughout that applicant’s participation in the Competition. By entering the Competition, applicants agree to grant a license to the Reviewing Parties to use such materials without restriction and to conduct such due diligence as the Reviewing Parties determine is necessary or desirable for purposes of evaluating the application and carrying out the Competition as described herein. In addition, the Reviewing Parties will have the right to publicly post

certain information about accepted applicants and their applications in the public areas of the Reviewing Parties’ websites, including, but not limited to, name and category of business, logo, and an abstract. The Reviewing Parties will also have the right to use the content of applicants’ applications for research and other not-for-profit purposes.

Downtown Pitch Competition does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender expression, military status or marital status.

Downtown Pitch Competition reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions in its sole discretion. In the event of a modification, all applicants will be notified as soon as reasonably possible.

Downtown Pitch Competition and/or its designees reserve the right to use and reproduce information disclosed about yourself, and/or company for purposes of business or publicity (i.e.) photo and video testimony.

Downtown Pitch Competition may temporarily or permanently suspend the contest, or modify the contest venues, structure or rules at any time and without advance notice. Competition sponsors, judges, and service providers reserve the right to disqualify and reject any entries and participants for any reason.

By entering the contest, entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by the rules and the decisions of Downtown Pitch Competition and the judges, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the contest.

Any and all federal, state and local taxes and fees resulting from participation or receipt of any award are the sole responsibility of the participant. All federal, state, and local laws and rules apply.

By participating in the contest, all entrants and winners agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Downtown Pitch Competition the judges, and their respective affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liabilities, for losses, harm, damages, injuries, costs or expenses whatsoever including without limitation, property damage or injury which may occur in connection with participation in the contest, for any claims based on third party rights in the entry or arising out of the use of the entry as allowed by these rules

including, but not limited to publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action.

Any attempted entry other than as set forth above is prohibited; no automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. Downtown Pitch Competition and its affiliates are not responsible for technology, hardware, software, or communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost, congested, or unavailable network or internet connections, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the contest or vote, including issues resulting from downloading any materials from the contest or Sponsor’s website.

YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT DOWNTOWN PITCH COMPETITION ITS JUDGES, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGE, LOSS, OR EXPENSE OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PITCH A DREAM CONTEST REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY IS BASED IN TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE. IN NO EVENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, A NEGLIGENT ACT, SHALL PITCH A DREAM, ITS JUDGES, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA, LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK STOPPAGE, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OR INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS), ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE DOWNTOWN PITCH CONTEST OR ANY OTHER PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR INFORMATION OFFERED, SOLD, OR DISPLAYED ON THIS SITE, YOUR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS SITE GENERALLY, OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER PITCH A DREAM, ITS JUDGES, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

You expressly waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these rules or the contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these rules or the contest shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) in connection with the arbitration and any appeal from the losing party. Any award by the arbitrator shall be final and binding on all parties, subject to any limited right to appeal under the Federal Arbitration Act. Any court having jurisdiction may enter judgment on the arbitrator’s award. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of Michigan in Clare, Isabella or Osceola county.

THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, U.S.A., WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS

RULES. For any disputes with Downtown Pitch Competition arising out of the contest or the rules that are not subject to arbitration, you agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the state or federal courts located within Clare, Isabella or Osceola Counties.