The Greenhouse, an effort led by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of St. Petersburg, provides local business owners with resources to help them thrive.
St. Pete Pitch Night, where individuals can outline their plans and goals for their companies, is just one of the organization’s offerings.
Roger Curlin, the chamber’s director of business growth and engagement, has decided to expand upon the concept. The Greenhouse will host its first Brick Pitch event March 5 at St. Petersburg Opera Company headquarters, 2145 1st Avenue S.
The event will focus on brick and mortar-based businesses. Six people will be able to give six-minute presentations. Following each pitch, there will be a six-minute round of questioning from a panel of judges.
Curlin said that there will be judge’s choice and audience’s choice winners. The judge’s choice will receive a large cash prize and the audience’s choice will receive a smaller financial reward.
Additionally, packages from organizations that help small businesses will be awarded; these include logo design and coaching services. Some of these offerings will be available to all six individuals who participate.
“Pitch Night has always been about elevating small, local entrepreneurs that are in the startup phase,” he explained. “It’s a combination of getting them the resources they need through interaction with the audience and the people who are connected there. It’s also about elevating the overall spirit of St. Pete and the small businesses that make us special.”
Curlin added that there has been a challenge in some of the city’s corridors. Companies have been forced to leave their spaces – increasing the local vacancy rate.
“A lot of those businesses that are closing are local mom and pops,” he said. “Every time we lose one of those, we lose a little bit of our flavor.”
They also help “feed each other” through shared customers.
Curlin explained that the Brick Pitch event will feature a diverse range of companies. These include organizations that are looking to expand into a larger space or have previously operated as a pop-up.
The Greenhouse’s Small Business Navigator Program, he added, is another key way to support entrepreneurs. Owners can register for a free appointment where an advisor will interview them and help determine what they need to grow their business – such as mentoring services.
Other signature programs include the Entrepreneurial Academy. According to the Greenhouse’s website, this is an eight-week, in-person course that covers topics such as business research and planning, marketing and branding and customer relationships.
Curlin added that the Nonprofit Connect initiative, which allows individuals to engage with nonprofit leaders every third Friday of the month, will relaunch March 27.