BECKLEY W.Va. (WVDN) – Entrepreneurs across southern West Virginia have just a few more days to submit their applications for the 2025 Pitch Southern West Virginia (PSWV) business idea competition. The deadline to apply is noon on September 10, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your idea, compete for more than $20,000 in cash and technical assistance, and gain exposure and support to help launch or grow your business.
Finalists chosen by a panel of reviewers will pitch their business ideas in person on November 20, 2025, at Concord University in Athens, W.Va. The audience will select its favorite pitch, and an expert panel of judges will select the other winners.
“Interest is strong this year, and we’re eager to see the innovative business ideas from our region,” said Judy Moore, executive director of the WV Hive and deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority.
Diana Level, Collegiate Project Manager for Entrepreneurship Expansion at the WV Hive, recognized the generous support of current event sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors – NRGRDA, United Bank
Silver Sponsor – City National Bank
Bronze Sponsors – Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation, Wyoming County Economic Development Authority
In-Kind Sponsors – Concord University (venue), Go Duck Media (platinum), XAPP Design, Inc. (platinum), Jaensson Law (gold), Asher Agency (silver)
All prize money and in-kind services awards must be used to further the business idea presented.
Level said this year’s competition is different from previous ones, incorporating an additional “video pitch round” in which selected applicants from Round 1 will be invited to submit a 90-second video pitch in Round 2. The videos will then be evaluated by a team of reviewers, and the top five applicants will be invited to pitch in-person in November at Concord University. During the in-person event, competitors will have five minutes to present their idea followed by a question-and-answer period with the judges. Virtual coaching sessions will be offered for the finalists.
Pitch Southern West Virginia is open to residents and businesses in Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Mercer, Wyoming, McDowell, Logan and Mingo Counties, and also to students enrolled in colleges or universities in those counties. Applicants must have new or innovative business ideas and cannot have been in business longer than three years. First and second place winners of 2024 PSWV events are not eligible for the 2025 competition.
More details and the application are available on the program website: https://wvhive.com/pswv/.
