T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
• Who is behind the company? As the old saying goes, “Bet on the jockey, not on the horse.” Participants will be expected to explain how the experience of themselves, their team and/ or their advisory board gives them credibility.
to turn strategic thinking into strategic DOING. “Graduating seniors would be more compelled to stay and pursue their dreams locally, startup businesses would thrive with a higher quality applicant pool and a wealth of resources, and Texarkana would be known throughout our region as a hub of innovation and opportunity,” said White. Of course, much planning and organizing is
The Pitch It Texarkana! crew is excited about many things this event will bring about. Kasey Coggin, a member of the Strategic Doing Team, explained what she was most excited about. “As a “Texarkanian,” I am beyond excited about the opportunity to listen to the innovative ideas from our local residents that can potentially bring a new business, product or service to our community.” Haywood explained the team is also excited to see the community support of this inaugural event as the response has been great with press coverage and submissions. Expecting this event will be successful, discussions are already being held for next year’s Pitch It Texarkana! event. Once the winner is declared on March 31, the team will discuss the plus and minuses of the event to better prepare for future events. If you have been waiting for the opportunity to pitch your idea, it’s not too late to throw your hat in the ring. The deadline for submissions is March 16 with a $15 application fee. The website for submissions is www.pitchittexarkana.com. The community is welcome to come out and watch the final pitches. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the same website. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase, so be prepared for an all-around fun and exciting time. According to www.pitchittexarkana.com, when applying for this event, keep in mind that the judges are looking for “applicants to think outside the box, harness their talent and creativity, pitch an innovative idea and see a path to entrepreneurial success here in Texarkana, USA.” As in any community, Texarkana’s success and growth will depend on working together and “doing strategically.” “Sometimes the first step is to simply pitch an idea and see where it goes!”
in motion to prepare for this event. The judges include local entrepreneurs who have a desire to see Texarkana grow and flourish. Who better to judge than a panel of individuals who love our community and have played a part in its growth? Participants will have exactly three minutes to pitch their ideas to the judges and will be evaluated based on their ability to answer the following Key Questions... • What is your technology, product or service? Participants will briefly describe what they are selling and the need it fulfills (i.e., what is the problem and what solution does their product/service provide?) • What is your target market? Participants will briefly state to whom they are selling this product/ service. How large is the applicable market? Into what industry does their product or service best fit? • Who is your competition? Competition is positive, as it confirms that a market exists for their product/ service. All products and services have competition. • What is your competitive advantage? Participants
will explain what makes their product unique. Why do they have an advantage over others? How will their company provide this product/ service better than the competition?
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