Start Peninsula is pleased to announce that it will return this November for its seventh annual event. It has been held in different Peninsula localities since 2012, and will take place this year in Newport News. The event will be held Nov. 2-4 at the Applied Research Center, 12050 Jefferson Avenue, across from Jefferson Lab and adjacent to Tech Center.
Start Peninsula is a weekend-long event that aims to stimulate entrepreneurial growth in the local community by connecting early stage businesses to validation, opportunities and resources. It combines a pitch competition with business education and a celebration of our local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dozens of entrepreneurs connect with business leaders and mentors during this exciting event that showcases early stage businesses.
“We are excited to welcome the Start Peninsula event to the Applied Research Center. Start Peninsula helps grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the Peninsula and we are delighted to welcome early stage businesses to pitch at this year’s event,” says Florence Kingston, Director of Development for the City of Newport News.
Early stage businesses are invited to apply to pitch at Start Peninsula. If a business is invited to pitch, they must pay a fee of $75 before Oct. 1 or $100 after. 30 businesses will be invited to pitch on Friday, Nov. 2 and three winners will be selected on Sunday, Nov. 3. Winners will receive $5,000 to fuel their business growth and free access to local resources.
In 2017, Start Peninsula was hosted by the Greater Williamsburg region at the Stryker Center in the City of Williamsburg. The winners included MadSkills, Affordify and Muddy Marley’s Dog Wash. Since 2012, an average of 27 businesses have pitched their ideas each year during the event.
Experienced business professionals are invited to sign up to participate in the event as mentors by applying online. Mentors should have experience in marketing, sales, technology, finance, risk management, law, human resources or business ownership.
Start Peninsula 2018 is hosted by the City of Newport News, in partnership with the Cities of Hampton, Williamsburg and Poquoson, and the Counties of James City & York. For more information about Start Peninsula please visit their website, Facebook page or FAQ page.
Media Contact:
Amy Jordan, Economic Development Director
757-253-6607; amy.jordan@jamescitycountyva.gov