2026 Pitch
Competition Finals
Congrats to the
State Finals Winners!
Kathryn Crew
Kathryn claimed the win in the Innovation category and took home $10,000, presented by Mike Boden, President and CEO of OneAZ Credit Union. Way to go, Kathryn!
About MycoEarth: MycoEarth, LLC restores the microbiome of Arizona farm, orchard, and vineyard soils using mushroom grain spawn — actively growing fungal mycelium applied directly to the land via the MycoBucket Method, which delivers colonized mycelium on cereal straw to reverse four decades of biological damage caused by synthetic herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Unlike national competitors such as Fungi Perfecti, which ships from Washington with a six-week lead time, MycoEarth ships Arizona-native, regionally matched grain spawn from Prescott in two weeks, with hands-on application guidance tailored to orchardists, viticulturists, and field farmers.
MycoEarth, LLC
Javier & Daniela Ruiz
Javier and Daniela earned the top spot in the Lifestyle category and took home $10,000, presented by Kathryn Mattson of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Congrats to this dynamic duo!
About Green Repack: Green Repack provides professional repackaging services for the fresh produce industry, helping storage, distribution, and produce companies manage perishable products more efficiently. Our mission is to improve the repackaging process by addressing the challenges faced by the produce industry through effective, transparent, and reliable services. We focus on quality, efficiency, and properly trained personnel to ensure our customers receive consistent service they can depend on.
Green Repack
Khatrina Swarup
OncoNexusThe audience has spoken! Khatrina won over the room and took home $5,000 as this year's Crowd Favorite, sponsored by Growth Partners Arizona and presented by Mackenzie Fitz-Gerald, Economic Development Representative at APS and Moonshot Board Chair. Congrats, Khatrina!
About OncoNexus: OncoNexus is a software company helping cancer clinics make sure nothing from a patient's visit gets lost. Cancer care is one of the most complex medical specialties. Dozens of tasks come out of a single visit: orders, referrals, authorizations, follow-ups, patient instructions. Most practices manage this across disconnected systems, with staff manually filling the gaps. Things get missed. Claims get denied. Patients don't know what to do next.
Photos from our 7th Annual
Rural AZ State Pitch Finals are here!
Please use the pin 2748 to download photos.
Thanks to Casey Olson Designs at https://www.caseyolsondesigns.com/ for capturing the evening so beautifully!
2026 State Finals Competitors
October 24, 2026
5pm - 10pm
Heritage Headquarters
515 E Grant St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
You're Invited to the 7th Annual Rural AZ Pitch Competition State Finals in Phoenix, Arizona
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation across rural Arizona!
The state's brightest rural entrepreneurs are heading to the final round. Twenty winners from twenty Tour Stops — representing towns and cities across Arizona — will go head-to-head in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition for the chance to win big.
What's on the Line:
Two State Title Awards — $10,000 each
$5,000 Crowd Favorite Award — voted on live by you, the audience!
Join Us For:
Hors d'oeuvres and a hosted bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)
Delicious buffet dinner and desserts (see MENU below for details)
A night of bold ideas, big dreams, and rural Arizona spirit
Come cheer on these incredible entrepreneurs as they pitch their way to the top. Your vote could help decide who takes home the Crowd Favorite title!
We can't wait to celebrate rural Arizona's entrepreneurial spirit with you!
Scroll below for all of the details. Tickets are sold out — can’t wait to see all of you!
If you’re a participant looking for info on how to prep for the competition, please click here.
HOSTED AT THE
BEAUTIFUL HERITAGE HEADQUARTERS
In Downtown Phoenix
The event is taking place at Heritage Headquarters in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
515 E Grant St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
EVENT INFO
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5pm Cocktail Reception
6:30pm Program Starts/Dinner Served
7:30pm Pitch Competition & Awards
9:10pm Closing Remarks & Celebration
10pm Evening Comes to a Close -
Tour Stop 1st place winners will receive a complimentary two-night stay (October 23 and October 24) at Home2 Suites in downtown Phoenix, approximately a 2 minute drive to the Heritage Headquarters event space.
Learn more about this hotel at https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/phxpxht-home2-suites-phoenix-downtown/.——
For a list of additional Phoenix hotels, check out https://www.visitphoenix.com/meetings/why-you-should-choose-phx/state-of-the-art-stays-in-downtown-phoenix/.
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Enjoy cocktail hour charcuterie prior to a delicious buffet dinner which includes:
FAJITAS DE CARNE
POLLO PHILADELPHIA
(Grilled chicken breast covered with chipotle Philadelphia cream sauceLEMON CITRUS SALAD (Spinach, red onions, dried cranberries and cherry tomatoes with lemon citrus vinaigrette dressing)
SIDES: Rice, Beans, and Pasta Salad
Desserts including Lemon Tarts and Chocolate Cake Bites
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Free parking is available in the venue parking lot.
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This event is geared toward business/cocktail attire.
Many thanks to this evening’s event sponsors…