The Dallas Entrepreneur Center at Redbird (DEC@Redbird) is partnering with Comerica Bank for a new pitch competition intended to help entrepreneurs ‘take flight.’

“The startup scene in Dallas has traditionally neglected the innovation, brilliance, and ingenuity coming from Southern Dallas,” Executive Director of The DEC@RedBird, Michelle Williams, told Dallas Innovates. “We chose to focus on this area to ensure those ideas and businesses received the exposure, support and funding they deserve.”

The DEC@RedBird aims to help up and coming Southern Dallas entrepreneurs. [Photo: Courtesy The DEC@RedBird]

The contest caters to the community of Southern Dallas, giving the entrepreneurs from the area the ability to pitch their ideas in an interactive and incubation-inspired manner. Once the application deadline (March 8) has passed, five teams will be selected as finalists to pitch their ideas to the judges.

The interactive pitch competition will include a three minute pitch of each team’s idea, made by either an individual or group, and a Q&A with selected judges in the audience.

Cash prizes will be handed out to the top three presentations, with $10,000 going to the winner, $5,000 to second place, and $1,000 to the audience’s choice. All winners are required to accept ongoing business support from members of the DEC.

Williams says she’s happy to provide the budding entrepreneurs with resources to training, exposure, and seed funding, as it’s all part of the DEC@Redbird’s commitment to its community. The contest will celebrate the determination and can-do efforts of entrepreneurs across Southern Dallas, which Williams hopes will even the playing field, give tips for business sustainability, and boost entrepreneurs in the area.

Eligible applicants must fill out an application and submit a video by March 8 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Interested parties cannot have competition-based funding given to their business in the last 18 months, must agree to attend at least one information session and one pitch practice session, and either live or have an established business in Dallas County, south of I-30. Check out the application page to learn more.

The Nest Pitch competition will be held at the DEC@Redbird on Saturday, March 23 from 6-8 p.m. Register and find more information here.