PRESENTATION AND SELLING SKILLS are vital for any small business. You might want to seek inspiration, therefore, from the achievements of three small businesses from across the U.S. who are the winners of SCORE’s Small Business Pitch Competition. What they achieved can serve as an inspiration.

As part of the pitch competition, contestants were matched with one of SCORE's free, expert business mentors to guide them to prepare and deliver a compelling pitch.

Judging criteria included the effectiveness of the presentation, brand identification, uniqueness and viability of the product or service, the thoroughness of the business plan, scalability and any sustainability or social impact. Financials were also assessed on overall potential.

First Place:
Crystal Lister – Mommy and Me: The Listers (Cypress, TX)

Mommy and Me: The Listers is dedicated to delivering engaging STEM education to children and families, especially in underserved communities. Innovative programs, including interactive workshops and events, aim to foster curiosity and imagination in young learners.

Their flagship initiative, the STEM Carnival, combines fun with education and provides hands-on experiences that inspire a love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Crystal earned the top prize of $20,000 for her pitch. She plans to use her prize to finance the creation of a mobile classroom to deliver STEM education directly to underserved communities and expand existing programs.

In addition, the funds will support investments in technology, specialized equipment and software to improve STEM program delivery and user experience, and to develop a scalable business model to ensure ongoing support for educational initiatives in underserved areas.

Second Place:
Khaliah Guillory – Nap Bar, Inc. (Houston, TX)

Nap Bar offers a unique rest and wellness experience designed to boost productivity and well-being. Nap Bar provides comfortable, sustainable sleep suites, including organic mattresses and linens, within a serene environment.

Their services cater to professionals, entrepreneurs and anyone in need of rest, offering pop-up napping services, VR experiences, and sleep consultations to help combat sleep deprivation and improve overall performance.

Khaliah earned $10,000 for her pitch, which she plans to use toward the expansion of sleep solutions including the installation of sleep suites in airports, pop-up sleep pods and development of new products.

The fund will also support brand awareness, resources and marketing to promote their commitment to wellness and sustainability, as well as strategic partnerships to scale operations and reach new markets.

Third Place:
Jacky Chao - Creator Camp (Katy, TX)

Creator Camp provides innovative educational experiences for children aged 6-13, focusing on creativity and technology. Offering in-person camps in various locations, participants learn skills in filmmaking, animation, music production and game development.

The program emphasizes collaboration and hands-on learning, ensuring that kids gain valuable knowledge in a supportive environment.

Jacky received $5,000 for his pitch. He will use the prize toward website optimization to further improve user experience, making it easier for parents to browse and register for camps. The prize will also go toward marketing initiatives to increase visibility, attract more participants and expand the camp programs.