Pitch Your Hustle
Share your vision, wow the crowd, and compete for cash.
This is where Native entrepreneurs take center stage to showcase their business, share their story, and compete for cash prizes to fuel their ventures. Whether you’re an established business or growing hustle, we want to hear from you.
Saturday, June 27th, 2026
Shiprock E-Ship Hub Tse'Bit'A'i Shopping Center Unit #10
How it works!
Submit your pitch
Fill out the submission form (apply here) and tell us about you and your business. See Rules & Regulations for submission details.
Must be an established business, or be able to demonstrate a validated business model. Nonprofit and for profit businesses are eligible.
We review submissions
The Change Labs team will select eight (8) finalists to compete in the Pitch Your Hustle event in Shiprock, New Mexico, on Sat. June 27th.
Finalists will be notified in Middle of May 2026.
Finalists compete for cash
Contestants will have 3 minutes to deliver their business pitch to a panel of judges. Prizes available for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and 4th place, as well as an Audience Choice award.
Finalists must have the ability to deliver pitches in-person.
Questions? Email Holly Patterson at holly@nativestartup.org
Who Should Apply?
Pitch Your Hustle is built for Native entrepreneurs who are doing the work — running a business, growing a side hustle, or building something meaningful for their community. If that sounds like you, we want you on that stage!
Operating Business
Sole Proprietorships
LLCs
Non-profits
Side Hustles
Weekend Operations
If you have customers and are making it work, you’re eligible
Change Labs Borrowers
Already working with Change Labs on a business loan? This contest is especially designed to support your growth!
We encourage all active borrowers to apply!
4 Corners Region
Native-owned business must be located on, operating on, or primarily serving customers within an indigenous reservation in the 4 Corners region (NM, AZ, UT, CO).
Interested in larger capital or a business loan?
Learn more about our lending program!
How Your Pitch is Scored
A Panel of 3 Guest Judges score each pitch across 5 categories for a total of 50 points. All Judges’ decisions are final.
Change Labs review team will evaluate all applications using the same criteria to select up to 8 finalists.
Ready to Apply?
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Ready to Apply? ~
Ready to Pitch Your Hustle?
Applications open soon. Submissions accepted via the online Hubspot form + uploading your 3 min pitch video.
You may submit your 3-min pitch video and materials via Dropbox link, WeTransfer, or Google Drive (set to “Anyone with the link can view”) before the deadline for consideration.
Questions? Email holly@nativestartup.org subject line “PYH 2026 Shiprock”.
DEADLINE — May 10th, 2026 11:00pm MDT/10:00pm (Phoenix Time)
Sponsors
