Tour History

In 2018, Scott Hathcock (Moonshot’s CEO) and Kiersten Hathcock (an award-winning entrepreneur who was featured on Shark Tank) co-produced a Shark Tank-like business pitch event in Flagstaff, Arizona. The event was such a hit that Moonshot—a 23-year-old Arizona-based nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs and economic development groups—reached out to economic development leaders and city officials in rural communities to set up tour spots all over the state. 



Business pitch events are plentiful in major cities within Arizona, but not in rural areas.

We are proud to help our rural partners create entrepreneurial ecosystems in their respective towns and cities.



Over the years, the tour has grown substantially and now boasts 20 tour stops/competitions in 2025. We couldn’t do it without our incredible statewide, regional, and local tour sponsors and partners.

What’s in it for you?

  • Why join the Moonshot Tour?

    Here’s how the pitch tour helps economic development executives throughout Arizona:

    * The event allows economic development directors to audit the business talent and ingenuity in their respective cities and towns.

    * The event provides an opportunity to grow economic development in a town or region.

    * Entrepreneurs and risk takers with great business ideas go on to create more jobs within the community.

    * Moonshot has a wide network of successful CEOs and founders who provide mentorship and coaching as part of the pitch tour. The mentors who volunteer their time to help entrepreneurs on the tour also have wide networks of connections to capital, manufacturing contacts, legal contacts, and more.

    * Entrepreneurs in your town have the opportunity to partner with entrepreneurs from all over the state and take part in Moonshot Academy—our educational programming.

  • Why should you sign up?

    Here’s what you get when you sign up for the a tour stop competition:

    * You'll learn to successfully and quickly pitch your business/invention/idea to potential investors. (Pitch presentations are 3-5 minutes in length).

    * You'll be competing to win cash prizes, scholarships to become a Moonshot member (entrepreneurial education, mentorship, and more), and more! (Prizes vary by tour stop.)

    * You'll get feedback from top industry experts and exposure for your business or product.

    * You'll meet other risk-taking entrepreneurs in your area that you can lean on while you're diving into the start up world.

    * Also, the first place winner of each tour stop will go on to compete in the statewide competition for a $10,000 cash prize (and additional prizes). The finals event will be held on October 18, 2025 in beautiful downtown Prescott, Arizona. Each tour stop winner will receive a free hotel stay and two tickets to the finals event.

Testimonials

  • “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 thier 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

An inside look at our 2022 tour.

Interviews with Past Winners

With Hosts Ruth Ellen Elinski & Scott Hathcock

Arlene Dreste - Ajo, Arizona

Adam Mayer - Sierra Vista

Nelson Brown - Tucson

Hilarie Rigo - Wickenburg

Alex Rovang - Verde Valley

Jenalyn Lorilla

Gerty Tsinnie - Winslow

Marlee & Nea Cuff - City of Maricopa

Katie Dufort - Prescott

Cecilie Hudson - Globe/Miami

Matthew Artman - Graham /Greenlee