April 29, 2026

Quartzsite, AZ

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Hey Quartzsite 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 2025, 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.

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Our local Quartzsite 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!

Logo of Quartzsite, Arizona featuring a large letter 'Q' with a desert scene, the text "Founded 1867" and "Incorporated 1989."
Arizona Western College logo featuring a large red 'W' above the college name in red and blue text.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:30 AM: Welcome + Pitch Worksheet Workshop

9:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Pitch Practice

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

* Schedule is subject to change depending on the number of participants who attend.

Congrats to our Quartzsite Winners!

  • Three people smiling and holding a large novelty check in a room with a presentation setup and signage for the Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition 2025. An American flag is visible in the background.

    Marieke McArthur

    Aerozona Farms

    First Place Winner

    Aerozona Farm is a groundbreaking approach to farming in the desert through Aeroponics. Aerozona Farm can be a local solution to food insecurity and rising produce prices in the desert through innovative sustainable indoor agriculture.

  • Three men holding a large ceremonial check at the Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition event. An American flag is visible in the background along with event banners.

    Phillip Cushman

    Cushman Apiaries

    Second Place

    We provide premium, raw, unfiltered, pesticide-free, pure Sonoran Desert Blossom honey and other bespoke products. We serve the communities in Western Arizona with no-kill honeybee removals and relocate the colonies to Quartzsite.

  • Two people holding a large check in front of a banner for Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition 2023. The check displays an amount of $200 commended to "Whole Bed Prep Clinic." There is an American flag and sponsor logos in the background.

    Leesa Bolden, LAc

    The WholeBody Repair Clinic

    Third Place

    The WholeBody Repair Clinic is a place for people to begin to heal from the inside out - naturally the way God intended.

    Healing Center - We are currently utilizing the ancient wisdom of Chinese Medicine along with modern technologies of energy and frequency healing such as PEMF, light therapy, Rife and Nikolai Tesla frequency healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Download this What to Expect guide.

  • Check out individual tour stop pages listed in the menu above or go to our calendar page.

  • Check out our Participant Resources page.

  • 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

  • See examples of past pitch presentations here.

  • 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.