‘Brick Pitch’ Event Champions Local Entrepreneurs With Cash Prizes, Business Support

The Greenhouse will hold its first Brick Pitch event on March 5 at St. Petersburg Opera Company headquarters, 2145 1st Ave. S. Six entrepreneurs will give 6-minute pitches about their brick-and-mortar businesses to a panel of judges and audience members.

Two winners will walk away with prizes. The judge's choice winner receives a large cash prize. An audience choice winner gets a smaller financial reward. Packages from organizations that support small businesses will also be distributed, including logo design and coaching services.

Roger Curlin created the event to support local storefronts. He serves as director of business growth and engagement at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Some offerings will be available to all six participants.

"Pitch Night has always been about elevating small, local entrepreneurs that are in the startup phase," Curlin said, according to the St. Pete Catalyst. "It's a combination of getting them the resources they need through interaction with the audience and the people who are connected there. It's also about elevating the overall spirit of St. Pete and the small businesses that make us special."

The Greenhouse operates as an effort led by the chamber and the City of St. Petersburg. It gives local business owners resources to help them thrive.

Curlin pointed out that vacancy rates have climbed as businesses leave their spaces. "A lot of those businesses that are closing are local mom and pops," he said. "Every time we lose one of those, we lose a little bit of our flavor."

These establishments help "feed each other" through shared customers. The Brick Pitch will feature a range of businesses looking to expand into larger spaces or that have operated as pop-ups.

The Greenhouse offers other programs for entrepreneurs. The Small Business Navigator Program lets owners register for a free appointment where an advisor will interview them and help figure out what they need to grow. The Entrepreneurial Academy is an eight-week, in-person course. It covers topics such as business research and planning, marketing and branding, and customer connections.

The Nonprofit Connect initiative will relaunch on March 27. This program lets individuals engage with nonprofit leaders every third Friday of the month.