“The Pitch”: People presenting ideas for new businesses

A local version of “Shark Tank”, “The Pitch” allows people to present ideas for new businesses to a panel of mentors (essentially judges.

Show "shark tank" was held tonight in tupelo... w-t-v-a's bronson woodruff joins us now live from downtown tupelo where people pitched their ideas for businesses.

He reports on how organizers kept participants safe during the event.

Tonight , about fourteen people began pitching their ideas to accomplished business owners and entrepreneurs.

This is the fifth annual pitch event, and it happened during the pandemic, which called for some additional safety guidelines.

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Nat pop: clapping most great things begin with a dream, and businesses are no exception.

For tupelo resident oredea nickell, getting cakes - r- us off the ground would be a dream come true.

"as long as you're being safe, you wear the mask, you follow the guidelines, i think we're ok."

She said business at her home stopped for awhile when the pandemic first hit... she said with the proper precautions, opening a new business will work out fine.

"wearing the gloves, sanitizing, the mask, we have everybody meet us outside, you know."

Judges in this competition are called mentors.

These mentors get to choose a top four out of all the pitches, and work with that person.

Judd wilson is vice president of the chamber of commerce.

He said tonight's layout is different for coronavirus safety.

He explained people will wait in the lobby and enter one pitch at a time, while social distancing the whole time.

"once they're out there, they'll need to wear their mask, but when they're in here, six feet away from the mentors, they'll be able to remove that mask then so the mentors will be able to hear their pitch."

Nat sound: meeting sounds.

For participant kimberly fields, the goal of her pitch lies in making sure elderly people can receive care at home instead of going to nursing homes if that's what they want.

"clients going into the nursing home and can't be in their home, people are wanting their loved ones at home with them so they can see their loved ones on a day- to-day basis."

Fields said her business ties in directly with the coronavirus because people are wanting their loved ones to come home.

"at least, tru care sitters llc will be there with them during the pandemic if their loved one has to go to work, or wanna go out on an outing or something, they will have something there to take care of them that's reachable."

She said wearing proper protective of the job.

For nickell, she hhter)" after tonight's compe their mentors, then come back on october fifth, where organizers will choose a winner.

Reporting live in tupelo, i'm bronson woodruf for w- t-v-a nine news.

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