YBI Hosts Virtual Pitch Competition in Lieu of Shark Tank

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — In light of social distancing requirements, the Youngstown Business Incubator will host its Virtual Pitch Competition in lieu of its annual YBI Shark Tank event.

Sponsored by Medical Mutual and Vince & Phyllis Bacon, the competition will award a $5,000 prize to the entrepreneur who accrues the most votes. Participants film a short video of themselves pitching a startup or small business, and fill out a short application.

Entrepreneurs of all ranges are invited to submit.

“2020 has proven the need to be able to shift things on the fly, and that’s why we’ve decided to take our ‘Shark Tank’-style event, simplify it, and still let an impact be made on an entrepreneur’s life,” said Corey Patrick, YBI director of marketing and communications.

Participants can click HERE to submit. Deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. Oct. 27. Voting begins at midnight Oct. 29 and closes 11:59 p.m. Nov. 10.

Patrick advises participants to keep their pitch brief and creative to capture the attention of individuals watching.

“We really hope to see a diverse and creative representation of entrepreneurs from various parts of the Mahoning Valley and Northeast Ohio,” Patrick said. “You just never know who may take a look at your pitch!”

Pictured: File photo of the “Sharks” from the YBI Shark Tank event in May 2019: Eugene Calabria, GBS Corp. CEO; Catherine Mott, Founder of BlueTree Capital Group; Ed Muransky, owner and CEO of The Muransky Companies; Anthony Vross, co-owner of Simon Roofing; and John Masternick, CEO of Windsor House Inc.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.