The Leadership Mountain Home Class of 2026 has introduced The Hatchery, a free pitch competition offering $5,000 in startup funding for aspiring young entrepreneurs. The contest is open to individuals and teams ages 14 to 21 from Baxter and Marion counties and invites entries from those with new business ideas, ventures in development or existing businesses.
Applications, which include a short description of the business or idea and a two- to three-minute video pitch, are due by Friday, October 23. Participants under 18 must have parental or guardian consent. Competitors may enter individually or in teams of two.
Organizers promise an enriching experience for all participants. Each entrant will receive personalized feedback from judges, pitch-building resources, mentorship opportunities, and guidance on presentation skills. Contestants advancing past the initial application stage will participate in a live preliminary judging round on Thursday, November 5. Four finalists from that round will compete in a final event set for Saturday, November 14.
Finalists will present a three- to five-minute pitch and answer questions from judges. All four finalists will win cash prizes, with $2,000 awarded to first place, $1,500 to second, $1,000 to third, and $500 to fourth.
The Hatchery serves as the Class of 2026’s Community Impact Project and aims to inspire entrepreneurship among regional youth. It also seeks to connect participants with local business leaders to foster future business and community leadership in north-central Arkansas. The class has focused on entrepreneurship throughout the year, including a visit to the Ozarks Small Business Incubator in West Plains, Missouri, where members attended a panel discussion with local business owners.
Leadership Mountain Home participants commit to a year-long educational experience exploring the organizations, industries, and challenges shaping the area. The program, sponsored this year by Vantive, is run through the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. Past classes have tackled projects such as a Workforce Development Summit and an analysis of a local industrial park's future.
Applications and additional competition details are available online at enjoymountainhome.com/workforce-development.