July 9, 2026
Globe| Miami | Payson, AZ
Congrats to the 2026
Miami/Globe/Payson Winners!
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Sarah Alexander
Kismet Kloset
First Place Winner
A nonprofit resale boutique (run by Kismet Foundation) that rents out closet/display spaces to community members who want to sell gently used clothing, accessories, and home décor. Staff handle the sales; vendors keep 80% of proceeds while 20% goes to fund the Foundation's community programs.
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Kiana Thompson
The Miner’s Board
Second Place
A mobile charcuterie and grazing table business serving a rural mining community for weddings, showers, corporate events, and holiday gatherings. It blends elevated food presentation with a homestead-style, small-town feel. A medium board costs about $40–$50 to make and sells for around $125.
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Travis Harley
Conch
Third Place
A privacy-first messaging and collaboration app for individuals, families, and small businesses, offering secure messaging, voice/video calls, file sharing, and team tools without ads or data-selling — positioned as an affordable alternative to mainstream platforms.
Our local Globe, Miami, and Payson sponsors make this event possible by hosting a space for the event, helping to get the word out locally, and providing local prize money for winners. We couldn’t do it without them!
Hey Globe, Miami, and Payson risk takers, business leaders, & entrepreneurs!
Do you have a “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 2026, 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 $5,500 (annually)! Moonshot members receive mentorship, educational programs, and access to investors and funding opportunities.
HOW TO APPLY TO COMPETE:
Please see the schedule below. To apply, simply click the button below.
Please note: You must live in Miami, Globe, or Payson area in order to qualify to compete in this competition. Also, if you’ve competed in this competition before, you do not qualify to compete again if you are pitching the same product/company/pitch. Thanks!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
LOCATION
Gila Community College
8274 S. Six Shooter Canyon Rd.
ROOM 522
Globe, AZ 85501
SCHEDULE
9:00 AM: Welcome + Pitch Worksheet Workshop
10:00AM - 12:00 PM: Pitch Practice
12:00 pm - 1:30pm: Working lunch, pitch deck cleanup, additional practice
1:30PM: Start Pitch Competition
3:00 or 3:30: Announce Winners
* Schedule is subject to change depending on the number of participants who attend.
PRIZE MONEY
1st Place: $2500
2nd Place: $1250
3rd Place: $750
Frequently Asked Questions
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Check out individual tour stop pages listed in the menu above or go to our calendar page.
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Check out our Participant Resources page.
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The schedule for each tour stop will vary depending on the number of applicants who apply to compete. We’ve broken the sample agendas out below. These are subject to change. This year, we are capping the number of participants in larger tour stops to 20 participants. Applications will be accepted first come, first serve.
Tour Site A - less than 10 applicants (smaller events/tour stops)
Agenda A:
8:30 AM - Welcome + Pitch Worksheet Workshop- Fill out pitch worksheet
9:30 AM: 1st Pitch Practice Workshop, emphasis on financials and business model
10:30 or 11:00 AM: 2nd Pitch Practice Workshop, emphasis on legal and branding/marketing
12:00 or 12:30 PM: Working lunch, pitch deck cleanup
1:30 or 2:00 PM: Start Pitch Competition
3:00 or 3:30: Announce Winners
Tour Site B - 10-12 applicants, 2 rooms
Agenda B:
8:30 AM - Welcome + Pitch Worksheet Workshop- Fill out pitch worksheet
Break applicants into 2 groups
9:30 AM: GROUP 1- 1st Pitch Practice Workshop, emphasis on financials and business model
GROUP 2- 1st Pitch Practice Workshop, emphasis on legal and branding/marketing
10:30 or 11:00 AM - GROUP 1- Pitch Practice Workshop, emphasis on legal and branding/marketing
GROUP 2- 2nd Pitch Practice Workshop, emphasis on financials and business model
12:00 or 12:30 PM: Working lunch, pitch deck cleanup
1:30 or 2:00 PM: Start Pitch Competition
3:00 or 3:30: Announce Winners
Tour Site C- 12-20 applicants, 3 rooms
Agenda C:
8:30 AM - Welcome + Pitch Worksheet Workshop- Fill out pitch worksheet
Break applicants into 3 groups
9:30 AM: GROUP 1- 1st Pitch Practice Workshop
GROUP 2- 1st Pitch Practice Workshop
GROUP 3- 1st Pitch Practice Workshop
10:30 or 11:00 AM - GROUP 1- 2nd Pitch Practice Workshop
GROUP 2- 2nd Pitch Practice Workshop
GROUP 3- 2nd Pitch Practice Workshop
Participants will only attend 2 of 3 practice rounds/ Applicants will be cut down to 8-10 for the finals
12:00 or 12:30 PM - Working lunch, pitch deck cleanup
1:30 or 2:00 PM - Start Pitch Competition
3:00 or 3:30 - Announce Winners
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See examples of past pitch presentations here.
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Here’s an example of the pitch worksheet that all participants receive at the beginning of the day. It walks you through how to pitch your idea/business and what elements you need to include.