The National Black MBA Association Scale-Up Pitch Challenge is a competitive grant program from the National Black MBA Association that provides cash awards of up to $50,000 and introductions to early-stage business investors for minority entrepreneurs. The challenge targets startups in the initial or early stages of development, with finalists invited to present at the annual NBMBAA Conference and Career Fair.

All competitors gain access to free business consulting, mentoring, and partnership development opportunities. Applicants must be U.S. residents aged 18 or older, with at least one founder who is Black (of African descent) and maintains an equal or greater ownership stake in the startup. At least one team member must be an active National Black MBA Association member to participate in the semi-finals and advance to the finals.

Scale-Up Pitch Challenge Rules & Eligibility - NBMBAA Scale-Up Pitch Challenge Rules & Eligibility The deadline for all submissions will be provided. The top 3 finalists will be invited to attend the NBMBAA® 2025 Conference & Career Fair At least one founder of each Scale-Up Pitch Challenge team must be an active member of the National Black MBA Association® in order to participate in the Scale-Up Pitch Challenge.

Ideas and concepts pitched must be in the initial or early stages of development. Individuals or teams must disclose any funding already received at the time of registration. There is an allowance for an idea or concept to be already funded before this Challenge by personal or family funds, small amounts of seed capital from outside investors, or modest amounts of funding stemming from institutional or research grants.

The pitched idea or concept must be the original work of the individual or team pitching it.

The individual or team represents and warrants that (i) it or they are the author or owner of the idea they are pitching and the owner of any intellectual property right(s) upon which the idea is based and (ii) that the idea does not contain any libelous material, does not invade or violate any right of privacy, personally or proprietary right, or other common law or statutory right.

Ideas and concepts deemed by the NBMBAA® Organizing Committee to be fake, insincere, offensive, immoral, libelous, or unethical or in violation of any right of privacy, personally or proprietary right, or other common law or statutory right may be screened and disqualified.

The NBMBAA Organizing Committee has the sole discretion to disqualify and/or remove any individual for any reason that it deems appropriate before and/or during the Challenge for violation of these rules. All decisions regarding an individual’s or team’s removal and/or disqualification from the Challenge are final. All entrants and winners must: Be a U.S. resident, and over the age of 18.

Have a founder who is Black (of African descent), who maintains an ‘at least equal stake’ in the startup (if the startup has three owners, at least 33% of its ownership must be Black). At least one member of each Scale-Up Pitch Challenge team must be an active member of the National Black MBA Association in order to participate in the Scale-Up Pitch Challenge semi-finals virtual event. Become a member here .

The Challenge judges are a panel made up of investors, business development and startup experts from local and surrounding areas of each round. The Committee’s decisions will be final. Applications must be received by the submission deadline.

All semi-finalists must be a member of NBMBAA® in order advance to the finals and compete at the NBMBAA® 2023 Conference & Career Fair The maximum number of team members for a single pitch is limited to 1 person. In the event of a tie, the cash awards will be split equally between the competitors. By participating in the challenge, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges.

All competitors will gain access to free business consulting, mentoring, and partnership development. Confidentiality is not guaranteed in any way. Do not include confidential material in your submissions.

There is no way for NBMBAA® to enforce a prohibition of other competitors, audience members, or the Judges who see and hear a pitch competitor’s materials from sharing the idea and/or materials. Sharing your idea or concept may be deemed a public disclosure, so if you are interested in filing a patent, you may need to consult with a patent attorney before entering the Challenge.

NBMBAA is not responsible for any confidentiality issues that may occur during the course of the Challenge and will not be involved in any way with disputes arising therefrom. Competitors may exclude any proprietary information or materials that the competitor feels are at risk of disclosure.

Release – By participating in the Challenge each participant and winner agrees to indemnify and defend NBMBAA®, its officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, members, or event participants from any loss, liability, costs, or damages arising from actual or threatened claims or causes of action which may occur from the conduct of, or participation in, the Challenge, or from the use of any prize.

In order to receive a prize, participants will be required to sign a separate waiver form provided by NBMBAA. Publicity; Use of Personal Information – By participating, where allowed by law, all participants and winners grant NBMBAA the exclusive permission to use their names, characters, photographs, voices, videotape, and likeness in connection with the promotion of this and any future Challenge.

By participating in the Challenge, where allowed by law, participants agree that NBMBAA may disclose personal information obtained from participants in the Challenge to third parties and use such information for marketing and other purposes. The value of any prize awarded to a winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law.

Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prizes and paying any expenses associated with any prize which are not specifically provided for in these rules. Each winner must provide NBMBAA® with valid identification and a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number before any prize will be awarded.

Any person winning over $600 in prizes from NBMBAA will receive an IRS Form 1099 at the end of the calendar year and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS.