Start Peninsula is pleased to announce that it will return for its 8th annual event to Hampton, VA. Start Peninsula will be held Nov. 1-3, 2019 at the McGrew Towers Conference Center, 24 Indian Road, located on the Hampton University campus. Start Peninsula has been held annually in different Peninsula localities since 2012.
Start Peninsula is a weekend-long event to celebrate our local entrepreneurial ecosystem. It’s all about the development of early stage businesses, those with a product or service which is in testing or still developing, and not completely ready to go to market. Then connecting them with opportunities and resources to validate their business ideas. Dozens of entrepreneurs connect with business leaders and mentors during this exciting event designed to educate and showcase early stage businesses through a pitch competition.
“We are excited to host Start Peninsula at Hampton University. Start Peninsula has proven to be a valuable entrepreneurship event on the Peninsula and we looking forward to these early stage business pitches at this year’s event,” said Chuck Rigney, Director of Economic Development for the City of Hampton.
Early stage businesses are invited to apply to pitch at Start Peninsula. If a business is invited to pitch at Start Peninsula, they must pay a fee of $75 before Oct. 1 or $100 after. Thirty businesses will be invited to pitch on Friday, Nov. 1 and three winners will be selected on Sunday, Nov. 3. Winners will receive $5,000 to fuel their business growth and free access to local resources.
In 2018, Start Peninsula was hosted by the City of Newport News at the Applied Research Center. The winners included Safety Nailer, Senior Runs and Nuekie. Since 2012, there have been 195 business ideas pitched at this event.
Experienced business professionals are invited to sign up to participate in the event as mentors by applying online. Mentors should have experience in marketing, sales, technology, finance, risk management, law, human resources or business ownership.
Start Peninsula 2019 is hosted by the City of Hampton, in partnership with the Cities of Newport News, Williamsburg and Poquoson, and the Counties of James City & York. For more information about Start Peninsula, please visit its website, Facebook page or their FAQ page.
James City County Media Contact:
Laura Messer, Tourism & Marketing Coordinator
757-253-6607; laura.messer@jamescitycountyva.gov
Start Peninsula Host Media Contact:
Daniel Girouard, City of Hampton
757-727-6237; dgirouard@hampton.gov