Saginaw Soup, the entrepreneurial pitch competition will take place on Thursday, May 4 at 6 p.m., at the CMURC at the SVRC Marketplace, 203 S. Washington Avenue. The event will highlight local entrepreneurs as they pitch their small business idea to a panel of judges and audience members. For a $5 entry at the door, guests can vote for their favorite entrepreneurial idea. Free samples from SVRC Marketplace vendors will also be available for guests that evening.
The goal of Saginaw Soup is to support local entrepreneurs that have a dream and a vision for their business but need help to bring it to fruition. Saginaw Soup’s 1st place winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize, 2nd place is a $500 cash prize, and 3rd place will receive a free weekend booth at the SVRC Marketplace. The audience will vote for a people’s choice winner who will be given the total of entry fees collected at the door.
Cassi Zimmerman, Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Saginaw, commented on the event’s efforts, “Saginaw Soup works to inform entrepreneurs and visionaries of the resources that are available to help develop their business idea. We walk these entrepreneurs through the development of a business plan including hosting training on speaking about the problem they are solving, a marketing plan, competition, and financials. Entrepreneurs leave the program with the tools to stabilize and grow their business.”
Saginaw Soup is a collaborative effort between Saginaw Future, Saginaw Economic Development Corporation, the Small Business Development Center, Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, CMURC, City of Saginaw and the Bridgeport and Saginaw DDAs. The event is sponsored by the Saginaw DDA, Saginaw Future, and Jolt Credit Union.
For more details about Saginaw Soup, visit the Saginaw Soup Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Saginawsoup, or contact Rachel Murdock at (989) 757-2102.