TCNewTech Bar Napkin Pitch Night

The TCNewTech Bar Napkin Pitch is a high-energy pitch night where early-stage founders take the stage with just a 2-minute idea — and the crowd picks the winner.

This is one of Traverse City’s most fun and accessible startup events of the year. Come out, grab a beer, and help decide which idea deserves $500 and a whole lot of momentum.

If you’ve got an idea — even a rough one — you’re eligible to pitch.

Pitchers deliver a live 2-minute pitch covering:

• 
  
• The problem they’re solving
  
• Their solution
  
• Why someone would actually pay for it
  

Then you vote. The audience selects the winner. That’s it.

Some pitchers will be coming straight from 20Fathoms’ Startup Idea Workshop — a 2-hour session the night before where founders sharpened their ideas and built their pitches from scratch. Others will be walking in cold. Either way, the stage is yours if you want it.

5:00 – 5:30 | Doors Open & Networking Grab a drink, meet some people, and get settled. This is a great crowd.

5:30 – 6:30 | Pitches The main event. A lineup of founders each take the stage for 2 minutes to pitch their idea live.

6:30 – 7:00 | Networking & Winner Announced Keep the conversations going while votes are tallied, then we’ll crown the $500 audience-choice winner before the night wraps up.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a techie, a curious professional, or just someone who loves a good idea and a cold drink — this night is for you.

• 
  
• It’s at a brewery — beer and food available for purchase
  
• Live pitches from people with ideas — at the earliest, most exciting stage of building something
  
• $500 prize — awarded by audience vote
  
• Great people — builders, supporters, and future collaborators all in one room
  
• Bring your crew — the more people in the room, the better the energy, and the more you can stack your deck to win if you hop onstage!
  
• Fast and fun — doors to done in two hours
  

If you want a little structure before stepping on stage, check out the Startup Idea Workshop happening the night before (Monday, 5–7pm at 20Fathoms). In just two hours, you’ll define your idea, shape your pitch, and walk in Tuesday night ready to compete.

Register and come ready to cheer, judge, or steal the mic.

Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Earthen Ales, 1371 Gray Drive, ##200, Traverse City, United States

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