Graham & Greenlee
Counties, AZ
July 23, 2026
Congrats to the 2026 Winners!
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Rural Food Hub
First Place Winner - $5,000
Brianna and Darla Dodge
My company will provide a commissary kitchen and overnight parking for food trucks and cottage bakeries. We will build a fully functional commissary kitchen equipped with storage and all items needed for prep and baking. We will have a graveled secure lot for food trucks and trailers to rent a space and park overnight. With limited commissary kitchens in the valley ours will stand out even more so by being a designated kitchen, not running any other business out of it. We will be competitive in pricing and standards to ensure we meet our clients needs.
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Sister Share App
Second Place - $2,500
Mattie BinghamSitterShare is a website/app that matches parents with childcare. It verifies sitters credentials, and allows for preset notifications to be sent to the sitter’s phone. Parents can easily set nap times, snack times, and more, with a guaranteed response. Parents can also set budget limits, matching them to a sitter/family group which best matches their specific needs. SitterShare will be available to all families in the Gila Valley through the city’s official chamber of commerce website. From there we will expand to neighboring communities. SitterShare will cost $50 a family/year. A portion will go into a fund for families who can’t afford childcare. Another portion will be used to update and do needed maintenance. The remaining portion will be split amongst the creators. We also plan to use prize money to offer a 3-D printed camera to babysitters, which would feed directly to parents phones, in order to create even safer childcare in our community.
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Ginaveves Market Place "Desert Drip"
Third Place - $1,500
Cade BryceGinaveve's Market Place is being transformed into a modern, multi-brand rural food destination featuring Desert Drip dirty sodas, Main Street Bean coffee, artisan sourdough from Sift Happens, and premium olive oils and balsamics—all under one roof.
Rather than opening another specialty shop, we created a business model where multiple complementary brands share the same staff, equipment, and customer base while offering customers a unique experience they can't find elsewhere in rural Arizona. Our goal is to revitalize a long-standing Main Street business, encourage people to shop locally, and create a destination that brings the community together.
Our customers include families, students, commuters, local professionals, tourists, and visitors exploring Southeastern Arizona. We are growing our reach through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, community events, partnerships with local organizations, loyalty programs, seasonal product launches, and word-of-mouth from exceptional customer experiences.
Desert Drip has already generated excitement through its soft launch, and we will continue expanding our menu, bakery offerings, and specialty products to increase repeat visits. By combining multiple complementary brands under one roof, we are creating a sustainable business that serves the community while showcasing the best of what Graham County has to offer. -
The Fuel Bar
Crowd Favorite - $1,000
Gabriella Pena
The Fuel Bar is a healthy, whole-food meal preparation service specializing in delicious, high-protein, macro-friendly, and gluten-free options, including fresh salads, wraps, and prepped entrees.
We solve the hassle of healthy eating for busy lifestyles through a simple weekly schedule: customers order online from Sunday evening through Tuesday night for fresh pickup or delivery the following Sunday.
Unlike generic meal kits or standard fast food, we focus on clean, high-quality, allergen-friendly ingredients designed to fit specific dietary goals without sacrificing taste. Our target customers are busy professionals, fitness enthusiasts, and health-conscious families. We build our customer base through local social media marketing, word-of-mouth, and partnerships with nearby gyms and wellness communities.
Operating as a home-based business under Arizona Cottage Food laws keeps our overhead incredibly low. With food and packaging costing roughly $5 to $13 per meal and a retail price of $9 to $18, we project a strong profit margin, making the business highly profitable and ready to scale.
Our local Graham & Greenlee 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!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS & DETAILS
JULY 23, 2026
LOCATION
Eastern Arizona College
615 N Stadium Ave, Thatcher, AZ 85552
PITCH PRACTICE/SEMI-FINALS - Closed to the Public
11:00am-12:00pm - Lunch, networking, introductions, and participant check-in
12:00pm-4:00pm - Participant pitch practice with mentors
EVENING PITCH FINALS - Open to the Public
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Lee Little Theater at Eastern Arizona College
Open to the public
»» RSVP TO CHEER ON THE CONTESTANTS HERE
PRIZE MONEY
$5,000 for 1st Place
$2,500 for 2nd Place
$1,500 for 3rd Place
$1,000 for People’s Choice, voted on by the audience
+ additional prizes to be announced
In addition to local prize money, all competitors who participate in a tour stop competition will automatically receive a Moonshot membership valued at $5,500 (annually). Moonshot members receive mentorship, connection to entrepreneurs across the state, educational programs, and access to investors and funding opportunities.
Hey Graham and Greenlee 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:
Simply click the button below. Scroll below for schedule details.
Before applying, please note the following:
You must live in Graham and Greenlee Counties in order to qualify to compete in this competition.
Business ownership must be local (in Graham/Greenlee Counties).
If you’re a previous participant who placed or won (with the same business), you are not eligible to re-enter with the same business.
DUE TO OVERWHELMING APPLICANT RESPONSE, THE APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED. See you at the event!
Frequently Asked Questions
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You do not need to have experience as an entrepreneur to compete. You can simply have an idea for a product or service.
Participants will be taught how to present a business pitch in 5 minutes.Each tour stop competition schedule will vary, depending on how many applicants apply. We will expect you attend the full day event, should you apply.
A sample schedule and sample presentations from past tour stops events will be shared below. We’ll make sure you have as much reference material as possible.
You do not need to use a slide show (like Powerpoint or Canva) to present your ideas; however, if you’d like to do so, that’s wonderful. Past winners have won local tour stop events without the assistance of slide shows.
Learn more about what to expect and take a look at past pitch presentations here. -
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.
