Lansing’s Shark Tank-Style Pitch Contest Is Taking Applications
Everybody has that "million-dollar idea" that's been running through their brains. Personally, I think a self-folding fitted sheet is long overdue. Or, how about a shopping cart with a GPS on it so you don't pass the honey you've been hunting for twenty minutes? If you've got a legitimate idea that you could get off the ground with a bit of funding, then Lansing's version of Shark Tank (minus the cameras) might be the opportunity you've been waiting for.
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Lansing’s Shark Tank-Style Opportunity Is Back
Mid-Michigan entrepreneurs have an opportunity to get their idea funded on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hannah Community Center. The event, presented by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), is called The Hatching, and everyone in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties is eligible to enter. The catch? The deadline to apply is August 31. Selected finalists will receive coaching, feedback, and help developing their pitch deck before the big event.
Three Minutes Could Be Worth $10,000
Similar to the reality series Shark Tank, The Hatching gives every finalist three minutes to pitch their ideas. There's no Q&A grilling afterward, so make sure you make those 180 seconds count. Judges will evaluate presentations based on creativity, feasibility, and impact.
High school students will be vying for a first prize of $1,000, college students $5,000, and adults $10,000. When you think about it, it's only three minutes that could fuel your bank account with capital to create your dream. Just three minutes. I've spent longer than that explaining my order at Taco Bell.
Maybe Stop Sitting on That Idea
You've told your family hundreds of times about your "refrigerator that locks after 9 p.m. to avoid late-night snacking." Why not tell a panel of judges that can help you get that project off the ground? Applications for The Hatching 2026 are open now through August 31.
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How to Apply Before the August 31 Deadline
Apply through LEAP's The Hatching page, where you'll submit some basic information about yourself and your business idea, then upload a short 2-to-3-minute video explaining what you want to create. It doesn't have to be a polished pitch; they just want to understand the idea and the person behind it. Finalists will also commit to coaching sessions and an October 7 dress rehearsal before pitching live on October 8.
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