Turn Your New Business Idea Into Reality With Start-up Funding and Expert Mentorship
Do you have an innovative business concept for Brunswick County? Marine Federal Credit Union has teamed up with the Brunswick Community College Small Business Center to host "Pitch It Brunswick!"- a premier pitch competition giving local entrepreneurs the chance to present their new business ideas to a panel of three "Business Bulldogs" for start-up capital and prizes!
Compete for up to $3,000 in start-up funding plus free professional business planning, 8 weeks of REAL Entrepreneurship coursework, and 1-on-1 counseling!
Competition Prizes & Eligibility
Award Tiers and Candidate Eligibility Criteria
Competition Cash Prizes
1st Place Winner: $3,000 Start-Up Capital
2nd Place Winner: $2,000 Start-Up Capital
3rd Place Winner: $1,000 Start-Up Capital
Note: Prize funds must be deposited into a business account in the name of the pitched business
Ideal Candidate Profile
Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Ideally, candidates who have not owned a business before, but have a clear concept they want to launch.
Prior Owners with New Ideas: Existing or prior business owners are eligible if applying with a completely new business concept.
Drive & Commitment: Applicants must be passionate, have industry knowledge, and commit to required training and counseling.
Contestant Eligibility Requirements
Applicants Must Be Residents of Brunswick County and Certify the Following:
Location: You must be a resident of Brunswick County, NC, and plan to open your new business within Brunswick County.
New Concept: You are not currently operating the specific business concept presented in your application.
Affiliation Exclusions: You are not a current employee or immediate family member of an employee of Marine Federal Credit Union or Brunswick Community College.
Program Commitment: You agree to attend all Pitch It! Brunswick trainings, counseling sessions, and events.
Prize Fund Usage: All prize funds received must be deposited into a business bank account in the pitched company's name and used strictly for that business's start-up expenses.
Reporting & Survey: You agree to notify Marine FCU and the Small Business Center upon officially launching, creating jobs, and participating in the annual SBC impact survey for a minimum of 3 years.
Ethics: You pledge to participate ethically and represent yourself and the program professionally at all times.
Key Dates & REAL Entrepreneurship Course Schedule
Selected applicants receive free enrollment in the 8-week REAL Entrepreneurship program at Brunswick Community College (a $71 value waived for participants). This course provides the tools needed to complete a formal business plan and pitch deck.
Important Application & Competition Deadlines
| Date | Competition Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 9, 2026 | Application Period Opens |
| April 20, 2026 | Extended Application Deadline (5:00 p.m.) |
| April 21, 2026 | Selection Committee Review Meeting |
| April 22, 2026 | Applicant Selection Notifications Sent |
| July 15, 2026 | Final Pitch Deck Submissions Due |
| July 22, 2026 | Bulldog Packet Delivery to Judges |
| July 31, 2026 | Selection & Notification of Final Contestants |
| August 8, 2026 | Recorded Pitch Day |
| August 31, 2026 | Public Video Voting Starts on Marine FCU Facebook |
| September 14, 2026 | Public Voting Ends (5:00 p.m.) |
| September 19, 2026 | Pitch It Awards Presentation |
Required Counseling: Participants must also complete a minimum of (2) one-hour counseling sessions with the SBC and (1) one-hour counseling session with the SBTDC.
REAL Entrepreneurship Class Schedule (BCC Small Business Center)
Classes run Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at BCC:
| Date | Session Info |
|---|---|
| May 13, 2026 | Class 1 (First Session) |
| May 20, 2026 | Class 2 |
| May 27, 2026 | Class 3 |
| June 3, 2026 | Class 4 |
| June 10, 2026 | Break Week (No Class) |
| June 17, 2026 | Class 5 |
| June 24, 2026 | Class 6 |
| July 1, 2026 | Class 7 |
| July 8, 2026 | Class 8 (Final Session) |
Competition Scoring & Public Voting Rules
How Contestants Earn Up to 100 Total Points
Business Bulldogs Score (75 Max Points): Each participant receives an independent score of up to 25 points from each of the three Business Bulldogs based on their business plan quality, pitch deck, and in-person presentation.
Public Facebook Vote (25 Max Points): Pitch videos will be published on Marine FCU’s Facebook page. Public "Likes" on the original video post award bonus points:
1st Place (Most Likes): +25 Points
2nd Place: +20 Points
3rd Place: +15 Points
4th Place: +10 Points
5th Place: +5 Points
Voting Policy Notice: Votes must be from real individuals or existing business pages without financial compensation. Purchasing votes, direct-message soliciting of opponents' voters, or automated bot usage is strictly prohibited and subject to immediate disqualification.
Meet the Business Bulldogs
Meet the Business Bulldogs & Resume Resources
Contact Trisha Scott at tscott@marinefederal.org or (910) 355-5656.
Ashley Wallace, MBA, M.Ed.
MPP Director of Business Programs,
Brunswick Community College
YOU!
Amanda Chestnut, JD, ABA
Owner, Money Mastery
Vote for your favorite participant on Facebook. Stay tuned for the link to the live presentations.
Competition Terms, Media Release & Liability Waiver
Please Review the Participant Agreement Terms
Submissions Property: All materials, videos, and resumes submitted become the property of Marine Federal's Pitch It Brunswick! and will not be returned. Expenses incurred applying are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
Tax Responsibility: Winners are solely responsible for any state or federal taxes associated with receiving monetary awards.
Media & Likeness Consent: By submitting an application, you grant Marine FCU, Brunswick Community College, media partners, and contractors the royalty-free, worldwide right to record, edit, transmit, and promote your name, voice, video pitch, likeness, and application materials in marketing and publicity across all media in perpetuity.
Liability Release: Applicants release, hold harmless, and indemnify Marine FCU, BCC, judges, advertisers, and affiliated personnel from any claims, liabilities, damages, or costs arising from participation in the competition, selection process, or video broadcasting.
Pitch It Brunswick! is brought to you by Marine FCU in collaboration with the Brunswick Community College Small Business Center.
