Square One Pitch Competitions

2025 Pitch Competition & Small Business Showcase

September 25, 2025
The Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center

If you’re an entrepreneur in the Kansas City metro (yes, YOU) with a unique or innovative business idea (yes, also YOU), this is your chance to pitch it “Shark Tank”-style for an opportunity of funding. Six finalists will pitch live at the Small Business Showcase on September 25 at the Woodneath Library Center. The audience + a panel of business leaders will pick the top three - who walk away with cash in hand:

• 1st Place - $5,000
• 2nd Place - $3,000
• Fan Fav - $1,000

Want to Participate?
Submissions to apply for the Pitch Competition open July 7 - August 1. Eligible businesses are from the Kansas City metropolitan area and earn no more than $100,000 in gross annual revenue. Participants don't need to be a legal business entity to apply. This competition is intended for both established businesses and business concepts.

Booth applications for the Small Business Showcase open August 18 - August 29. Participating businesses can be product- or service-based.

In conjunction with the 2025 Pitch Competition & Small Business Showcase, Square One is also presenting a series of programs to compliment this event: Perfect Your Pitch, Practice Your Pitch, and How to Rock Your Business Booth. These are not required for finalists to attend, but are provided to assist throughout and are open to the public.

This work was funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of Mid-Continent Public Library.

Submissions for the Pitch Competition are now open through August 1!

APPLY NOW