April 29, 2026

Quartzsite, AZ

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.

    Phillip Cushman

    Cushman Apiaries

    First Place Winner

    Cushman Apiaries retails award-winning, organic desert blossom honey from our honeybees in Quartzsite, Arizona. We also provide no-kill honeybee removal services throughout the desert southwest. Approaching 100 beehives, we have doubled in size, honey production, and sales every year for the last three years.

  • 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.

    Ashlee Barnett

    Sqwezade Lemonade

    Second Place

    A mobile beverage event service; beginning with fresh squeezed, craft lemonades in hopes of further expansion into a small mobile bar. We are three highly motivated owners who actively monitor industry trends, consumer behavior, and emerging market opportunities to ensure our businesses remain competitive and relevant. In a rapidly evolving retail and food environment, we consistently adapt our product offerings, marketing strategies, and customer experience to align with changing demands. Our success is rooted in innovation, flexibility, and a shared commitment to growth.


  • 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.

    Marcy Urban

    Desert Strong Women’s Veteran Group

    Third Place

    Desert Strong is an informal, peer led monthly gathering of Women Veterans, primarily nomads, designed to garner trust, build communication and share information related to Veteran services for women. Over 50% of female Veterans have not accessed benefits due them. In a rural setting, trust and access are the main issues.

    This program will build trust at the grassroots level and build access through transportation, meeting space, information distribution and service access. This format has not existed until now. In future years, we will expand to LaPaz and Yuma County, and eventually statewide, potentially reaching over 2000 veterans.As District VFWA President,

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."
Logo of the Quartsite Chamber of Commerce featuring a camel's head in a blue circle, with text 'Quartsite Chamber of Commerce' underneath.
Logo for The Western Gateway La Paz Economic Development Corporation
Arizona Western College logo featuring a large red 'W' above the college name in red and blue text.

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 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 Quartzsite, AZ in order to qualify to compete in this competition.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Location: Arizona Western College Quartzsite, 695 Kofa Avenue, Quartzsite, AZ 85346

9:00 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.

Prize Money:

$1250 Total. Prize split TBD.

Thanks to these local sponsors for the generous prize money:
AWC - $500
La Paz EDC - $250
Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce - $500

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.