Got a big idea? Applications open for KEC’s annual pitch competition!
The "What's the Big Idea" pitch competition helps launch aspiring entrepreneurs into business with a grand prize of $10,000.
The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) announced that applications are open for the 2025 “What’s the Big Idea” (WTBI) Pitch Competition. They will remain open until February 3.
The competition will bring together entrepreneurs of all backgrounds in late February/early March to participate in an intensive weekend of prototyping, incubation, and launching. The winning idea will be advanced to one of the KEC’s business cohorts and will be eligible for $10,000 in prize money after completing the program.
Once all applications are submitted by February 3, the KEC team will ask a select number of companies to submit a 2-minute video pitch. Starting February 10, the public will be able to vote on their favorite companies and ideas.
The number of public votes a company receives will impact the final teams selected for the official competition, a 48 hour launch at the end of February, ending with the finale pitch presentation on March 2.
Here’s a snapshot of the 2025 schedule:
“Big Idea is consistently one of my favorite events of the year. It gives us a chance to reconnect with entrepreneurs that have been a part of our community for years, as well as be introduced to some new faces. It’s always exciting to see what ideas are submitted and how they take shape over the 48 hour competition,” said Jim Biggs, Executive Director of KEC.
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