Small Business Expo and Pitch Competition 2023

The Lauderhill CRA and City of Lauderhill organized their second annual Small Business Expo and Pitch Competition in 2023, featuring a substantial $25,000 cash prize. The competition was notably judged by Pinky Cole, the successful entrepreneur behind the Slutty Vegan restaurant chain valued at $100M. The event followed a multi-stage format, beginning with applications due July 17, followed by two preliminary rounds in August that narrowed the field from 15 to 10, and finally to 5 contestants. The competition culminated in a Business Expo and Final Pitch event on August 31, 2023. This high-profile event, promoted across social media with hashtags #PitchPlease and #PitchItRealGood, represented a significant opportunity for local entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and compete for substantial funding while learning from a successful business mogul.