Apache County Among Tour Stops for 6th Annual Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition

APACHE COUNTY, ARIZONA – St. Johns has been selected as the Apache County tour stop in the upcoming Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition, with the local County event happening on June 19. The event is part of the Coal Communities Transition effort to support economic growth in communities near Coronado Generating Station ahead of its planned closure in 2032.

This year’s competition includes stops in 20 rural cities and counties in Arizona.  Participants, either individuals or teams, will have the opportunity to highlight their innovation or business idea to a panel of judges in a Shark Tank-style pitch. Local pitch winners will earn cash prizes and move on to compete at the state title event in October.

It is free to take part and all local business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs, including high school and college-age students in the Apache County areas are encouraged to participate. Each local tour stop winner will receive $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place. The state title winner will receive $10,000 and the “crowd favorite” prize winner will receive $5,000 toward their startup business or innovation. Other cash prizes are also available at the state title event.

“Apache County is home to many innovators and entrepreneurs. The competition offers cash prizes, networking opportunities and the ability to bring attention to the community through innovation,” said Preston Raban, Director of Economic Development, Apache County. “We want to have a meaningful impact in helping a person get their business idea off the ground, especially here in Apache County.”

Tyson Nicoll of the city of Eagar, AZ was awarded the first-place prize at last year’s tour stop in Apache County for his startup, Southwest Biochar Products, which creates a carbon-rich product called Biochar which helps enhance soil. Tyson competed in the state competition, where he networked with Arizona business leaders who helped him secure a significant grant that allowed him to hire more than a dozen local employees to support the development of Biochar.

"Any startup needs a good network and even better mentors to be successful. Moonshot provides both. Any kind of help you can get when starting a new business will increase your chances for success,” said Tyson Nicoll, CEO, Southwest Biochar Products. “The Moonshot pitch competition has a great team of people from several agencies and organizations across Arizona wanting to help you be successful."

This is Moonshot’s sixth annual Rural Arizona Pitch Competition. Moonshot, an Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in communities of all sizes across the state, offers free registration and participation. To learn more and register, visit: moonshotazpitch.com.