June 18, 2026

St. Johns, AZ

All residents/businesses in Apache County are invited to participate.

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Hey St. Johns area 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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Congrats to our St. Johns Winners!

  • Two men standing in a room holding an oversized check for $1,000, with a presentation screen behind them displaying logo sponsors, and a banner with event details. The man on the left is smiling, wearing glasses, a light-colored shirt, and dark pants. The man on the right is smiling, wearing a white shirt and dark pants.

    Michael Lindsey

    Hometown Fresh Farm

    First Place Winner

    Hometown Fresh Farm is a small scale, commercial hydroponic greenhouse, servicing the White Mountains and Navajo Nation.

    Growing high-quality:
    Salad Mix 
    Head Lettuce
    Culinary Herbs
    Bunched Leafy Greens

    Hydroponics requires 5% of the water and 10% of the land used for traditional farming.

    Automated growing environment: temperature, CO2, light, and nutrient levels are automatically monitored and adjusted.

  • Three individuals stand together, with one holding an oversized check, at the Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition 2023 event, in front of a promotional banner and a presentation screen displaying sponsor logos.

    Walter Bia and Marissa Begay

    Bravo Solar and Wind

    Second Place

    At Bravo Solar and Wind, we provide top-notch inspection services to help you harness renewable energy. Our team is dedicated to delivering efficient and sustainable solutions for your wind farm or business. Join us in making a positive impact on the environment! 

  • Two men stand indoors holding a large ceremonial check for five hundred dollars, smiling at the camera. One man is wearing a dark t-shirt and jeans, the other is wearing a floral shirt. Behind them are banners for the Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition 2025 and a presentation slide displaying sponsors' logos.

    Matt Channon

    PillCall, Inc

    Third Place

    PillCall makes smart, Wi-Fi–enabled pill-bottle caps that text you only if a dose is missed—never if it’s already been taken. Unlike apps or timers, PillCall detects real bottle openings to prevent both missed and double doses. It fits standard pharmacy bottles and supports multiple caregivers via text. Setup is quick via a smartphone app and only needs to be done once. PillCall’s unique value is intelligent, non-intrusive reminders with a privacy-first design. We generate revenue through direct sales and retail pharmacy partnerships, offering a simple, effective adherence tool for families, seniors, and caregivers.

Our local St. Johns 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!

Seal of Apache County, Arizona featuring a steer head and mountains.
SRP logo with the slogan "Delivering water and power."
Logo of Summit Healthcare with stylized mountain graphic and text.
TEP logo with blue letters and a yellow swoosh design.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 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.

  • 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.