Eligibility

The Ignite Manistee Pitch Competition is open to:

• Legal residents of the United States.
• Individuals who are at least 18 years of age at the time of application.

Ineligible Applicants

The following individuals are not eligible to participate:

• Employees, officers, or directors of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce or any sponsoring organization.
• Immediate family members or individuals living in the same household as those listed above.
• Previous Ignite Manistee winners.

Eligible Businesses

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Own or be launching a business that has been operating for six (6) months or less at the time of application.
• Operate or plan to operate a for-profit or nonprofit business.
• Be in the start-up, ideation, early-stage, or seed-stage phase of development.
• Demonstrate a commitment to locating, growing, or expanding their business within Manistee County.

Application Submission

All applications must be submitted to the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce by the published application deadline.

Application Process:

1. Complete and submit the Ignite Manistee application - CLICK HERE. 

2. Applications will be reviewed to determine eligibility.

3. All applicants will be notified of their application status.

4. Selected applicants will receive information on next steps, available business resources, and pitch preparation support.

5. Selected applicants will develop a pitch deck with guidance available from the Chamber and community partners.

6. Five finalists will be selected to compete in the live Ignite Manistee Pitch Competition on December 10, 2026.

7. Finalists must be present in person to compete. Any finalist who is unable to attend the live event will be considered ineligible. 

General Terms & Conditions

• Ignite Manistee reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the competition at any time without prior notice
• Organizers reserve the right to disqualify any participant for any reason at their sole discretion
• All participants agree to abide by all rules and decisions made by the Chamber and judging panel