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Beach Biz Pitch Competition

The City of Miami Beach and Florida International University (FIU) are excited to launch a new entrepreneurship program to highlight emerging and established small businesses in Miami Beach. This competition gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their businesses to expert judges from the local venture capital and private sector.
 

The six-week challenge has two (2) tracks

Startup Track

  • Open to pre-venture or businesses that have been in business for one year or less from the date of application.
  • If the business is not incorporated, the principal owner/founder must reside in Miami Beach.
  • If the business is incorporated, it must be registered in Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County.
  • The product can be a proposed business or one that is already in development or operation. For profit businesses only.
  • Applicants must not have raised more than $25,000 in equity capital prior to applying for the competition.

Small Business Track

  • Open to businesses in operations for more than one year from the date of application. Business must have been incorporated prior to May 9, 2024.
  • The business must be incorporated in Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County. For profit businesses only.
  • Applicants must not have raised more than $25,000 in equity capital prior to applying for the competition.

Competition Awards/Prizes

For each track’s winner (Startup Track and Small Business Track), there is a $15,000 cash prize provided by the City of Miami Beach ($30,000 total). Additional in-kind contributions may also be provided from participating partners/sponsors.

First runners up would receive $5,000 each in cash prizes per track from the City of Miami Beach ($10,000 total). Additional in-kind contributions may also be provided from participating partners/sponsors.

Competition Rules

  • Entry deadline: Application submitted by 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Competition is open for Miami Beach principal owners/founders (non-incorporated businesses) and businesses located in the City of Miami Beach (incorporated businesses)
  • For-profit businesses only.
  • An entry consists of a completed application and accompanying 5-minute pre-recorded pitch video.
  • Applicants can only submit one entry in either the Startup track or Small Business Track.
  • Finalists will be required to present their pitches to an expert panel of judges. Written, semi-finalist and final pitch presentations will be judged a panel of City of Miami Beach stakeholders, FIU representatives, successful entrepreneurs, and potential investors.
  • Judges will first score written pitch decks (12 to 20 slides) for financial viability, scalability, market opportunities, differentiation, product/service value to customer, potential community impact to the City of Miami Beach, and other key factors.
  • Written feedback will be provided to those selected for the Semi-Final pitches. Semi-Finalists in each track will have the opportunity to provide live-pitches to the judges as part of a day-long event.
  • Judges will consider the pitch in semi-finalist and finalist rankings. If a finalist is unable to attend the judging session, the next highest ranked pitch will be deemed a finalist and awarded the opportunity to compete in final pitches.
  • Finalists would then be selected to compete in a final round of pitches before winners are selected at an in-person event.
  • The winners and runners-up will receive exposure through City of Miami Beach and FIU channels.

Why Should I Apply for Beach Biz?

  • Exposure for your business idea or small business
  • Networking with City of Miami Beach entrepreneurs, potential investors/funders, and small business community organizations
  • Access to technical support and trainings for competition participants
  • Cash prizes to track winners/runners up and potential in-kind contributions from participating sponsors/partners.