Want to meet the next big thing in the Burg? Or do you think your idea is the next Sunshine City Star? St. Pete Pitch Night is back on Tuesday, December 12 at 5:30 pm, hosted by the St. Petersburg Greenhouse and taking place at Coastal Creative, 2201 1st Avenue South.

This interactive and always interesting event is a celebration of all things entrepreneurial in St. Pete. Dozens of community-based businesses apply to compete in the event, and five finalists will be selected to vie for the $5,000 grand prize, each of whom will have the opportunity to present their innovative business pitch to the crowd, followed by a live Q&A session with local expert judges.

Applications for St. Pete Pitch Night are now open, and area entrepreneurs are invited to enter for their chance to shine. Applications close on November 1, so there is still time to put together a thoughtful proposal. Full details can be found below on parameters for entry

The grand prize winner will take home $5,000 to use on their business, while another lucky entrepreneur will take home the $500 audience choice award. Admission to the event at Coastal Creative is free and festivities are expected to run from 5:30-7:30 pm.

The inspiration behind the Greenhouse’s St. Pete Pitch Night comes from a desire for showcasing, elevating and seeding community-based businesses through a friendly pitch competition for a chance to win $5,000 toward a local startup. Businesses selected for entry are required to be scalable and/or innovative concepts that have been in business for four years or less.

At the last St. Pete Pitch Night, local non-alcoholic bottle shop Herban Flow took home the top prize of $5,000, while on-demand caregiving marketplace Care Collective won the Audience Choice award of $500.

To apply for St. Pete Pitch night, startups must meet one of the following requirements:

• Previously presented at a 1 Million Cups St. Pete
• Currently enrolled in an entrepreneurship program at a Tampa Bay college or University
• If selected, agrees to complete two sessions with a pitch coach mentor through The Greenhouse

Learn more about St. Pete Pitch Night and The St. Petersburg Greenhouse here.