DAWNtrepreneur Resource Fair, Showcase, & Pitch Competition

You’re invited! 

Join us for the DAWNtrepreneur Showcase and Pitch Competition, a premier event celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in northeastern Minnesota. 

Where: Maco Theater, Virginia, MN (https://macotheater.com)

This free event is hosted by Northspan’s Driving Access to Networks and Wealth (DAWN) program. As the northeast regional hub for Launch Minnesota, DAWN is part of a statewide collaborative effort to help entrepreneurs start or accelerate their business. Learn more about DAWN and the Showcase and Pitch Competition event here: https://dawnmn.org/

The evening will feature three exciting parts:

1. Business Resource Fair: Connect with organizations offering tools, funding, and support to help launch or grow your business—all in one place.
2. DAWNtrepreneur Showcase: Explore unique business ventures and connect with emerging entrepreneurs at their own individual booths.
3. Pitch Competition: Cheer on select participants as they deliver dynamic, 5-minute live pitches to compete for the grand prize of a $3,000 grant award.

Whether you’re a community supporter, investor, or curious innovator, we’d love to have you in the audience to come be inspired and support emerging entrepreneurs from across the region!

Please fill out this brief form to submit your RSVP.

Invite your friends, family, and colleagues. This is such a fun night to celebrate community!

OR

Share you amazing idea or business venture and submit your application HERE for the DAWNtrepreneur Showcase and Pitch Competition by September 22, 2025!

The Driving Access to Networks and Wealth (DAWN) program, powered by Northspan, is the northeast regional hub for Launch Minnesota, a statewide collaborative effort to help entrepreneurs start or accelerate the growth of their business. The DAWN program’s DAWNtrepreneur Showcase and Pitch Competition is a premier event celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in northeastern Minnesota. Learn more about DAWN and the DAWNtrepreneur Showcase and Pitch Competition here: https://dawnmn.org/

There are two tiers to this event:
(1) The DAWNtrepreneur Showcase: Selected applicants will be invited to demonstrate and share their unique business idea at their own booth during the event. All showcase participants will receive a $250 mini-grant award, plus the chance to network with potential funders and receive expert feedback to elevate their business.

(2) The Pitch Competition (optional): Entrepreneurs looking to take their showcase experience to the next level can also choose to opt in for the exciting pitch competition portion of the event. Five showcase participants will have the opportunity to present their business idea in a dynamic, 5-minute live pitch. The grand prize for the top pitch presenter is an additional grant award of $3,000.

This application is open to entrepreneurs who have completed or are currently enrolled in ILT Academy programming and are based in the DAWN service area of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Pine, and St. Louis Counties and the Native Nations of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Red Lake Nation.

By submitting this application, you agree that all information provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge, AND if selected, you can attend the DAWNtrepreneur Showcase and Pitch Competition on October 9, 2025, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at the Maco Theater in Virginia, MN (https://www.macotheater.com/).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 22!