Every good business starts from somewhere, and Arsenal Place Accelerator is hoping to help local entrepreneurs take their business or idea to the next level with the Delta Challenge Pitch Competition.

The competition, which is put on by the Delta Regional Authority, gives entrepreneurs that are trying to get their feet off the ground with a business or idea a chance to find national investors.

“We’re grateful to be hosting it,” said Dane Shaw, president of Arsenal Place Accelerator.

“There are about four other Delta Regional Pitch Competitions. One is in Memphis, and that is the size of the cities that most of these competitions are in. They’re these big cities, so for us to be able to host it in Selma is really enormous for our city, and it shows that there is an awareness that there is an entrepreneur movement going on in Selma. People are starting to take notice of that, and they want to partner with Selma in that.”

The entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges that are state and national business leaders Thursday, Oct. 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Arsenal Place Accelerator.

“There will be a panel of judges that will hear pitches from different entrepreneurs from around the region,” Shaw said.

“The entrepreneurs that win the contest will be sent to New Orleans for something called Entrepreneur Week in March, and at that stage they’re going to have an opportunity to pitch their business in front of national investors for potential investments in their company.”

The winners will receive training in Memphis between October and March to prepare them for pitching their idea or business in front of large-scale investors. Winners will also have all expenses from the New Orleans trip paid for by the Delta Regional Authority.

Win or lose, Shaw said the competition will be a benefit to anyone that participates.

“If I was an entrepreneur I’d be pitching because it’s exposure on a national level. One of the biggest roadblocks for entrepreneurs is marketing and getting their name out, so even if they didn’t win the contest their name is still going to be out there,” Shaw said.

“People are going to notice them. We’re going to have people from around the state that are going to be coming. There are going to be state and federal business leaders coming here, so they are going to get their name out.”

Shaw said the competition will also be beneficial to Arsenal Place because it will help them identify entrepreneurs in the Black Belt Region.

“It is going to help us build relationships with entrepreneurs, see where their needs are and help them grow their company,” Shaw said.

“On a larger scale, we really believe that building small business and growing an entrepreneurial culture in Selma is going to be the engine that drives the city.”

Shaw said between 8-10 entrepreneurs have verbally committed to making their pitch in the competition, but he is hoping even more decide to join the list.

The deadline to register for the pitch competition is Oct. 3. To register, visit www.dra.gov/entrepreneur.