We’re gearing up for the 2026 7th Annual Rural AZ Pitch Competition Tour!

Stay tuned for tour stop information, dates, and more!

And check out the 2025 winners here.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Hey Rural Arizonans!

Do you have an innovative “moonshot” business idea or an existing business you’d like to expand? 

Or maybe you have a product or business idea scribbled down on a napkin or notebook, but that's as far as you've gotten?!

​If you answered YES to either question above, join us for Moonshot's 7th Annual Rural Arizona Pitch Competition for entrepreneurs and business owners (aka, a showcase like you see on ABC's Shark Tank)!

This year’s focus is on INNOVATION. We'll be taking the tour to 20 different cities/counties throughout rural Arizona. Participants with innovative business/product/service ideas or existing businesses they want to grow will compete for the chance to win local tour stop prize money and more! But that’s not all. In October 2025, each tour stop winner will travel to the Greater Phoenix area to compete for the state title and $10,000 in cash, $5,000 in cash for "Crowd Favorite”, and additional cash prizes! Winners from each tour stop will receive two complimentary tickets to the finals event and hotel stay. More finals event details to come!

But that’s not all! ALL competitors who participate in a tour stop competition will automatically receive a Moonshot membership valued at $3,500 (annually)! Moonshot members receive mentorship, educational programs, and access to investors and funding opportunities.

HOW TO APPLY TO COMPETE:

Due to the limited allotment of 20 seats per tour stop event, a $10 registration fee is required to hold your seat.

To apply, simply go to the tour stop location page (where you live) in the menu above and fill out the application or click the button below and search for your tour stop location.

Sign Up

Learn more about our past winners!

Past Winners

2025 Tour Video

Get a behind the scenes peek at what a pitch competiton looks like.
Featuring the town of Superior, Arizona.

Testimonials

  • "Moonshot opened doors I didn’t know existed, including meetings with venture capitalists, new project opportunities, and invitations to conferences I’d never heard of. "

    2025 State Winner

    Ashley Heida, Founder
    analyticalmineset.com

  • “From my perspective, no one does more to promote small business growth than Moonshot in rural AZ. The Pitch Tour is a tremendous rally point for all these communities to focus early stage companies and small businesses toward their next step and continue to grow. We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Moonshot and continue promoting economic growth throughout AZ.”

    Mike Groeger
    Vice President, Commercial Sales & Service
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

  • "As the Economic Development Representative for APS, I’m inspired by how Moonshot and the Pitch Tour empower rural AZ’s small businesses to achieve bold growth and foster vibrant economic futures all across Arizona."

    MacKenzie Fitzgerald
    Economic Development Rep
    APS

  • "The Moonshot Rural AZ Pitch Competition is an inspiring event that empowers entrepreneurs and encourages job growth and economic development. Through this event, our team is able to connect with the businesses and entrepreneurs that can use our support and resources. We have connected with so many viable businesses, both new starts and established companies that we may never have met without the pitch competition as a vehicle to making these important connections.”

    Ruth Ellen Elinski
    Director
    SBDC Yavapai College

  • “Moonshot’s Rural Arizona Pitch Competition provides important opportunities and visibility for startups across the state, and we are proud to partner in their efforts. To date, many prominent Arizona startups from Arizona's rural communities have been highlighted and accelerated through the tour. We can't wait to see what the 2025 competition has in store!”

    Sandra Watson
    President & CEO
    Arizona Commerce Authority

  • "Participating in the Moonshot Pitch Contest has been an incredible experience. The pitch training and guidance were not only practical but also gave us the chance to receive candid, constructive feedback that truly reshaped how we talk about our company and engage with investors. What stands out most is how Moonshot provides access to resources and expertise that rural communities like ours wouldn’t normally have. It’s been both empowering and transformative, and I’d highly recommend it to any entrepreneur looking to refine their story and grow their impact."

    Steven Taylor, CEO
    NEXUSHEALTH

  • "If you’re considering the Moonshot Pitch Competition, I can’t recommend it highly enough. The exposure, thoughtful feedback, and hands-on support are valuable at any stage of growth. Moonshot has played a critical role in Ateleva’s progress, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their support."

    Whitney Slightham
    Co-Founder, Ateleva

  • Businesswoman speaking at a conference, holding a microphone, with a presentation slide in the background.

    Learn more about the history of the tour.

  • Library interior with bookshelves filled with books and people browsing in the background.

    Resources for Entrepreneurs & Tour Stop Hosts

Read About Last Year’s Competitors