The Pitch Heard 'Round the World

BOULDER, Colo. - Sept. 1, 2016 - PRLog -- Much anticipated entrepreneurial Pitch Slam, held Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at the Glenn Miller Ballroom, University of Colorado, has helped catapult several national brands; Awards to recognize outstanding leaders in the Naturally Boulder business community.

BOULDER, CO (September 1, 2016) – Naturally Boulder, a unique economic development initiative with nearly 1,000 members and a mission to nurture start-up natural, organic and sustainable products companies in Boulder and Colorado's Front Range, announces registration is open for its much-anticipated annual entrepreneurial Pitch Slam and Autumn Awards event.

Entrepreneurs presenting in the 12^th Annual Naturally Boulder Pitch Slam and Autumn Awards event will be competing for more than $25,000 in prizes, including a free exhibit booth at New Hope Network's Natural Products Expo West, the world's largest natural and organic products trade exposition, $5,000 cash, and a suite of free business services.

This year's event takes place Thursday, October 27, in the Glenn Miller Ballroom, University of Colorado Boulder. Pitch Slam preliminaries – free and open to the public – will be held throughout the afternoon from 1:00 - 4:00pm, where 25 entrepreneurs will pitch their young companies to a panel of experts. In the evening (registration required), from 5:00 – 9:00 pm, after mingling, cocktails and a naturally delicious buffet, five finalists will compete before 600 industry members in attendance to select a Pitch Slam winner, to be followed by the Autumn Awards celebration.

Tickets go on sale September 1 and can be purchased online. For complete information and to register, visit https://www.naturallyboulder.org/event/12th-annual-pitch-.... Advance registration is required, and is open to members and non-members. The event is expected to sell out.

Awards Ceremony Recognizes Outstanding Business Community Leaders

In addition to celebrating emerging brands, Naturally Boulder's Autumn Awards Ceremony will recognize local natural and organic products leaders in the following categories:

     Breakout Brand, presented to innovative companies shaping the future of natural products in Colorado. Judges also focus on the mission driving the business, and brands that stand out in the marketplace.

     Industry Leader/Community Champ, recognizing individuals who have spent much of their career advancing the Colorado natural and organic products community.

Past Naturally Boulder Pitch Slam winners include Wild Zora, Appleooz, Compo Keeper, Dressed Up Salad Dressing, Bamboobies, Winking Girl Salsa, Goddess Garden and Evol Foods. Steve Hughes, CEO of Sunrise Strategic Partners, was recipient of the 2015 Industry Leader/Community Champ Award.

Pitch Slam Submission Deadline

Natural and organic products entrepreneurs who are members of Naturally Boulder and whose business is based in Boulder, Denver and/or Colorado can enter the Pitch Slam by submitting a 1-minute video and application at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2990822/PS2016. Entries must be received before October 1, 2016.

New "Scholarship Fund" Offers Discounted Tickets

A new fund created to help entry-level entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, the Naturally Boulder and New Hope Network "Tremendous ROI" Scholarship Fund will offer a limited number of partial scholarships to the paid portion of the event, including the evening Reception, Pitch Slam Finals and Autumn Awards ceremony. Those interested may apply online with a brief statement summarizing your involvement in natural and organic products, and how receiving a discounted ticket would benefit your business. Selected individuals will receive $50 toward the ticket price.

Naturally Boulder Partners with FoodBytes! by Rabobank

In related news, Naturally Boulder is delighted to support FoodBytes! by Rabobank. This exciting event, held in select cities throughout the nation, pairs game-changing concepts in food and agriculture with the capital needed to bring products to market. FoodBytes! comes to Boulder on Wednesday, October 26, at the University of Colorado Boulder, Folsom Fields' Byron R. White Club.

FoodBytes! Boulder invites startups interested in presenting their ideas to apply on the FoodBytes! website by Monday, September 12. Tickets to attend the event can be purchased via the FoodBytes! Website.

About Naturally Boulder

Naturally Boulder is an economic development organization dedicated to nurturing and promoting organic and natural products businesses in Boulder, throughout Colorado's Front Range and beyond. We do this by creating meaningful connections for and among our members, offering education in business-building skills, serving as an advocate on important issues and coordinating economic development activities that advance the interests of our members. Our vision is to be the most supportive organic and natural products community in the nation, enabling companies to thrive so they can change the world for the better. Naturally Boulder was created in 2005 and today has nearly 1,000 members, including manufacturers, service providers, entrepreneurs, investors and individuals who are part of a thriving organic and natural products community in Boulder and throughout our region. Visit us online at www.naturallyboulder.org.