FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 16, 2018

Start Peninsula is pleased to announce that it will return for the seventh annual event in Newport News. Start Peninsula will be held Nov. 2-4, 2018 at the Applied Research Center, 12050 Jefferson Avenue, across from Jefferson Lab and adjacent to Tech Center. Start Peninsula has been held annually in different Peninsula localities since 2012.

Start Peninsula is a weekend-long event to stimulate entrepreneurial growth in the local community by connecting early stage businesses to validation, opportunities and resources. Start Peninsula combines a pitch competition with business education and a celebration of our local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dozens of entrepreneurs connect with business leaders and mentors during this exciting event that showcases early stage businesses.

“We are excited to welcome the Start Peninsula event to the Applied Research Center. Start Peninsula helps grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the Peninsula and we are delighted to welcome early stage businesses to pitch at this year’s event,” said Florence Kingston, Director of Development for the City of Newport News.

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. 2 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 2017, Start Peninsula was hosted by the Greater Williamsburg region at the Stryker Center in the City of Williamsburg. The winners included MadSkills, Affordify and Muddy Marley’s Dog Wash. Since 2012, an average of 27 businesses have pitched their ideas each year during the 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 2018 is hosted by the City of Newport News, in partnership with the Cities of Hampton, Williamsburg and Poquoson, and the Counties of James City & York. For more information about Start Peninsula please visit our website, Facebook page or their FAQ page.

View the official press release by clicking here.

Media Contact:
Sam Workman
757-926-3785
sworkman@nnva.gov