Wondering how to jump start your newest business venture or bring a creative idea into reality?
KEY INFORMATION
Location: National Youth Science Academy, 494 Riverstone Road, Davis, WV 26260
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 5 PM
Cost: Free to apply to, but must businesses must be established in or operate in Tucker County to be eligible.
Prize Pool: Typically $10,000 – we are aiming for $15,000 – email us to become a sponsor!
We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, please support them:
St. George Medical Clinic
Prodigi
Citizens Bank
Blackwater Ridge
Woodlands Development & Lending
Tucker Community Foundation
Tucker County Development Authority
Tucker County Chamber of Commerce
The Berry Best Catering 304
Highlands Bank
with support from:
National Youth Science Academy, Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, Piton Strategies
Applications closed July 31, 2026.
Products and companies must be established in or operate in Tucker County, WV and are registered with the State of West Virginia.
- Presentation order will be randomly selected in advance.
- Each presenter will be allotted five (5) minutes to present. A timekeeper will be on hand to help monitor time and give a signal one (1) minute before the ending time.
- Time will be given at the end of each presentation for a short five (5) minute question and answer session from the judges.
- Presenters may have visual aides to enhance the performance and to set up a display for event attendees to view. Visuals may include photos, samples, a TV or laptop with a running slide show, brochures, business cards, etc.
- Presenters must inform Steve Leyh (tuckercounty@gmail.com) AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE of any necessary audio/visual software/hardware needs. The presentation is of your design, style, and technique, as long as it is within the time allotment.
- There will be very brief intervals between presentations to allow for set up.
- At the end of all the presentations, all votes must be placed in the designated ballot box to be collected and tabulated.
- Attendees and presenters can only vote for one choice.
- Judges’ votes count as 10 points each.
- The winner will be issued the monetary award certificate at the conclusion of the tallied votes. The money will be distributed via an invoice for business requirements.
- Photos and information will be gathered to feature and share online by the sponsors of the event at the conclusion of the event.
- Please arrive at the National Youth Science Academy at 494 Riverstone Road, Davis, WV 26260 ready to present your pitch at 4:30 pm. Presentations will begin promptly at 5:00 pm.
- Judges will keep the applications confidential but note that anything shown during the presentation to judges will be to the general public.
First Place
$5,000.00
The Billy Motel
Pitch: Installation of a commercial kitchen
Second Place
$3,000.00
Stumptown Ales
Pitch: Installation of an Oktober Can Seamer for the brewery
Parsons Prize
$1,000.00
Five River Campground
Pitch: Addition of an ADA bathhouse for the campground.
The 2018 Tucker County Entrepreneurial Pitch Contest was sponsored by: Tucker Community Foundation, City of Parsons, Grant County Bank, Mountain Valley Bank, N.A., St. George Medical Clinic, Tucker County Chamber of Commerce, Tucker County Commission, Vision Shared Inc., Woodlands Community Lenders, WVU Extension Service and WVU Launch Lab and the Tucker County Development Authority.