Cape Girardeau chosen to host Delta Challenge Pitch Competition

Cape Girardeau is among six locations selected by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) for its third annual Delta Challenge Pitch Competition.

In an announcement Monday, DRA federal co-chairman Chris Masingill said the authority dreams of seeing the Delta region considered synonymous with entrepreneurship, just as Silicon Valley is synonymous with technology.

“Our region has low taxes, low energy (costs). We’ve got a good workforce. We have ample access to ports and natural resources. All the essential components for attracting and growing businesses,” Masingill said. “Now we need our hardworking people to step up and test their ideas and their mettle.”

Entrepreneurs from across the Delta region are invited to participate in the competition for a chance to win a fellowship with $40,000 in training and technical assistance. They also will have the opportunity to pitch investors during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.

The DRA will select 20 entrepreneurs and 16 support organizations to be a part of its Delta Entrepreneurship Network, which was created to “identify, connect and grow entrepreneurs and the support organizations that can help them,” Masingill said.

The competition will take place Sept. 20 in the Codefi offices in downtown Cape Girardeau. Other locations hosting the competition between September and November are North Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Tennessee; Oxford, Mississippi; Livingston, Alabama; and Ruston, Louisiana.

Masingill said the locations were identified through partnerships and strategically placed to be accessible for all entrepreneurs in the region to compete and to access resources. Masingill said the DRA will be supporting small-business resource fairs around each of the pitch competitions.

“We are pleased to host the Delta Entrepreneurship Network Pitch Competition and invite startups of any kind in or around Southeast Missouri to apply and participate,” James Stapleton, Codefi co-founder and senior strategic adviser on small business and entrepreneurship for the DRA, said in an email.

“It’s a great experience for startups at any stage to test their pitch skills and get valuable feedback on their companies. And it’s a great opportunity for winning local participants to connect with investors and other entrepreneurs that participate in New Orleans,” he said.

People interested in participating may sign up at dra.gov/entrepreneur.

bbrown@semissourian.com

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