Five finalists announced for small business pitch competition on Nov. 5

Five finalists announced for small business pitch competition on Nov. 5

October 21, 2026

Council Bluffs, Iowa, October 21, 2026 - Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation and TS Bank are pleased to announce the finalists for REV, a small business pitch competition planned for Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in Council Bluffs. Thanks to generous community sponsors, these five finalists will compete for a share of $21,250 in prize funding. The event is open to the public, registration is $15.00 at tsbank.com/revevent.

The five finalists, local entrepreneurs and business owners, include A+ Berry (Lincoln), J. Selander Photography (Glenwood), Syndicate of Sound & Synapse (Council Bluffs), Mascot Merch (Treynor) and Tipico Helado (Council Bluffs). Selected from a competitive pool of applicants by a third-party committee, these entrepreneurs will pitch in front of a live audience and judges in the grand auditorium.

Additionally, spotlight businesses will have a chance to compete for a $500 people's choice award. They include Aequitas Invest (Omaha), Bridget's Bookshelf (Council Bluffs), Honey's Yummies Pet Treats (Council Bluffs), Real Honest Tallow (Council Bluffs) and Sol Natural Health (Atlantic).

Attendees will have the chance to meet with all participants to learn more about their business ventures and network with other entrepreneurial-minded guests while enjoying appetizers and drinks. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. and will conclude at approximately 7:00 p.m. when the 2026 REV winners will be announced.

Major premier sponsors include TS Bank, Advance Southwest Iowa and Google. Gold sponsors include The Acres, Iowa Western Community College, Big Prana Microgreens and Dream Forge, while silver sponsors include Castle and Associates Inc., Rasmussen Mechanical, Deloitte, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce and Judd Knispel Insurance Agency. Bronze sponsors include Bloom Works Floral, Better Homes and Gardens - Andi Coziahr, Barley's, Jarvis Quality Meats, Baird Holm, Spout Marketing Solutions, Rachelle Edwards - Realtor, Heartland Properties, River's Edge Towing and Zimmerman Electric. This year's media sponsor is Loess Hills Media & Podcasts and Nebraska Enterprise Fund is the People's Choice Award sponsor. Additionally, Judge Richard Distillery is the drink sponsor and HyVee (on Madison Ave) is the food sponsor.

TS Bank originally started REV in 2015 in an effort to spur economic growth and encourage business owners to continue pursuing their dreams. Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation and TS Bank teamed up in 2020, to help double the impact of the event and build upon the small business ecosystem in southwest Iowa. As of today, $177,000 has been awarded through this program. Last year's winners included Southern Hills Veterinary Services, based in Corning, Iowa, Coffee Alley - Callejón del Café, in Ralston and Jarvis Quality Meats of Treynor.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Conner Mowery at Advance Southwest Iowa at 402.738.0739 or Kelsey Stupfell at TS Bank by calling 712.487.0334.

About Advance Southwest Iowa: Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation is the economic development organization for Council Bluffs and all communities in Pottawattamie County. Advance is a one-stop shop for economic development with a focus on business attraction, retention, entrepreneurship and site development. The Advance staff are proud to work alongside our many community partners to enhance the image and increase the tax base to make Pottawattamie County a prosperous and desirable community to live and do business. For more information visit advancesouthwestiowa.com.

About TS Bank: TS Bank's mission is to Ignite Prosperity® in the communities it serves. Leading the resurgence of community banking, TS Bank reinvests 10 percent of their net income locally; hosting educational events and partners with local organizations and non-profits. TS Bank was chartered in 1923 and has $445 million in assets, along with the largest Iowa state-chartered C-Corp trust department west of Des Moines at nearly $215 million in assets named TS Prosperity Group. Locations include Treynor, Macedonia, Atlantic, Corning, Council Bluffs and Ames, Iowa. For more information visit tsbank.com.