SBA Unveils All Star Lineup for Million Dollar Pitch Competition

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the all-star judging panel and event host for the grand finale of the agency's Million Dollar Pitch Competition. The judging panel will consist of global music icon and entrepreneur Nicki Minaj, inspiring business leader and real estate mogul Grant Cardone, and visionary co-founder of Airbnb and design leader Joe Gebbia. Dean Cain, award-winning actor, producer, and television host, will serve as the show's host.

The celebrity panel will preside over the live finale event in Washington, D.C. on September 18th, where five successful entrepreneur finalists will pitch their small businesses for a chance to win a portion of a $1 million cash prize pool funded by Clover Network, Inc. (Clover). Launched as part of the SBA's Freedom 250 initiative commemorating 250 years of American free enterprise, the competition celebrates the ingenuity, grit, and national economic impact of America's local businesses.

"Great American entrepreneurs themselves, Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, Joe Gebbia, and Dean Cain will only add to the excitement of this historic celebration of free enterprise in the finale of our Million Dollar Pitch Competition," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "From building globally recognized personal and business brands and multibillion-dollar portfolios to launching innovative wellness solutions and digital platforms, each brings a unique, real-world perspective on business growth and impact. Their presence will be invaluable in highlighting the unique and inspiring stories of the five finalists competing for $1 million in growth capital, and the importance of Main Street businesses in powering American strength."

Together, the high-profile judges and host represent decades of experience building brands, growing portfolios, and engaging audiences across entertainment, real estate, digital media, and small business investment:

• Nicki Minaj: Global hip-hop icon and record-breaking artist who has built a multi-industry business empire spanning the music business, fashion, beauty, and consumer products, including her own record label imprint, fragrance line, and brand partnerships with leading global companies.
• Grant Cardone: Entrepreneur, private equity fund manager, and real estate investor who leads Cardone Capital's multibillion-dollar property portfolio, founded the 10X Movement and 10X Growth Conference, and is a New York Times bestselling author recognized for his leadership in sales and business-scaling strategies.
• Joe Gebbia: Entrepreneur, innovative designer, and co-founder of Airbnb, who helped build the global travel platform into a leading hospitality marketplace. He also founded Samara, a company developing factory-made homes, serves on the boards of Airbnb and Tesla, and was appointed by President Trump in 2025 as the first-ever U.S. Chief Design Officer.
• Dean Cain (Host): Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director, and television host best known for his portrayal of Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and for hosting Ripley's Believe It or Not!, with a long career across film, television, and unscripted programming.

At the Washington, D.C. event, the judges will evaluate pitches from the top five national finalists: Compotech, Inc. (Brewer, ME), Winton Machine (Suwanee, GA), Plas-Tech Tooling (Garner, IA), Red River (Gillette, WY), and VetPowered LLC (San Diego, CA). The finalists will compete for five cash prizes funded by Clover:

• First Place: $400,000
• Second Place: $250,000
• Third Place: $150,000
• Fourth Place: $125,000
• Fifth Place: $75,000

To learn more about the Patriot Pitch Competition and the SBA's Freedom 250 initiatives, visit www.sba.gov/freedom250.

# # #

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Media contacts