REV Birmingham to host The Big Pitch in Five Points South Nov. 17

REV Birmingham will host The Big Pitch — the nonprofit's annual live “Shark Tank”-style business-plan competition — at the Studio Arts Building in Five Points South on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Five finalists will pitch their business models to a panel of judges and potential investors in front of a live audience, according to a REV Birmingham news release

The entrepreneurs will compete for a share of $50,000 in cash in the contest, which is being sponsored for the fifth year by PNC Bank, the release states.

The 2018 Big Pitch finalists, announced by REV in October, are as follows:

—Caedan Oliver and Sarah Schlund of Beehive Baking Company make fresh, handcrafted baked goods. The operators told Iron City Ink in 2017 that they would like to have a brick-and-mortar location.

—Stephen and Kelli Steward are creating a cat café, called Gatos and Beans, that will allow patrons to adopt foster cats.

—Tiffany Martin is opening Ignite Cycle, which she calls Birmingham’s only boutique cycling studio. She told Iron City Ink recently that she plans to open at Pepper Place in February 2019.

—Mota Autohaus, owned by Alexis Ginsburg and Manuel Mota, is a community-focused auto repair business.

—Kevon Lewis, operator of Nelchie's Cajun food truck in Leeds, is planning a  food truck park for downtown Birmingham.

In addition to cash prizes, winners of The Big Pitch will receive professional services from such local providers as bankers, attorneys, marketers and accountants.

And to prepare them for competition, the contestants have already been matched with mentors, consultants and service providers to help them refine their business models and hone their pitches.

The 2017 Big Pitch, which had 10 finalists, was held last November at The Negro Southern League Museum near Regions Field.

The first-place winner was R&M Convenience Store in Enon Ridge, owned by Rodriquez and Brianna Cowans.

Second place went to Kate Hardy of Square One Goods, a purveyor of cards, stationery and gifts. Hardy recently opened a brick-and-mortar location at the new Founders Station redevelopment in the 2000 block of First Avenue North downtown.

The Studio Arts Building is located at 1034 20th St. S.

Tickets and more information are already available at bigpitchbham.com.