September 11, 2025
Are you a founder in Utah? This could be your chance to turn your startup’s momentum into meaningful capital.
The State Bank Business Challenge, a pitch competition held during the One Utah Summit at Southern Utah University, will award $50,000 in cash prizes to winners. While programs like the Get Started: Business Idea Challenge award grants for budding ideas, the State Bank Business Challenge is a competition built for early-stage businesses.
Why Apply
This competition offers more than capital — it delivers visibility, valuable feedback, and strategic mentoring for winners, which is why small businesses from rural and southern Utah are especially encouraged to apply.
If you have a startup that meets the qualifications, bring your best pitch forward and prepare to step onto Utah’s entrepreneurial stage.
What You Need to Know
- Eligible applicants must be legal residents of Utah.
- Businesses must be generating revenue, not exceeding $150,000 in the prior year.
- Applications require a 90‑second YouTube video pitch about products or services, team, revenue model, and go‑to‑market strategy.
- Participants must attend both the semi-final and final competition in person in Cedar City. Remote participation is not allowed.
Timeline
- Midnight, September 28: Deadline for applications.
- October 1: Notifications for semi-finalists.
- October 6: In‑person semi‑final pitches at SUU.
- October 7: Finalists deliver live pitches before a panel of judges.
For more details and to apply for the competition, visit the State Bank Business Challenge website. Learn how to move your business forward with the Startup State Initiative’s resource page or take the first step and start your business in Utah.
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.