The big bus with the Maryland state flag that pulls up to the corner of Cordell and Woodmont Avenues in a few weeks could be the jump start to one local entrepreneur’s business dreams.
On Sept. 24, the “Pitch Across Maryland” bus tour will stop at environmental nonprofit Bethesda Green (4825 Cordell Ave.) as part of its three-week trek to find up-and-coming small businesses.
Bethesda Green hopes to feature its stable of businesses in its green business incubator during the event, one of three scheduled for Montgomery County.
Participants will get four minutes to make a video pitch (in a predetermined format) on the bus to a video crew, investors and Startup Maryland representatives.
The pitches will then be put online and narrowed down to eight finalists, who will go on to present at a November entrepreneur expo. The winner and runner-up will get automatic bids to 2013 venture competitions, where the nonprofit Startup Maryland group hopes they can find the money and connections to grow.
Seth Goldman, founder and CEO of Bethesda-based organic tea company Honest Tea, will be in attendance.
Goldman, a major supporter of Bethesda Green, started selling teas at Fresh Fields (now Whole Foods supermarket) in 1998. Ten years later the Coca-Cola Company bought 40 percent of the company. Last year, Coca Cola bought the entire company.
Organizers are hoping the bus event can help an undiscovered local company find similar success.
Registration information can be found at Startup Maryland’s website.
