Tap the Future™, Miller Lite’s business competition, officially opened for entries on June 13th. The competition puts entrepreneurs against each other for a prize pool of $400,000. There are three phases to the process: Phase 1-the National Launch, Phase 2-Live Pitch Events and Phase 3-National Finals. Groups will present and be advised by multiple businesses masterminds including Daymond John from ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Other Live Pitch Event Judges include Aaron Firestein and Raaja Nemani of Bucketfeet, Lance Rios of Being Latino, Roberto Torres and Luis Montanez of Black & Denim, and Sulaiman Sanni and Ben Lamson of WeDidIt. National Judges include Leslie Anderson of BMO Harris Bank, Louis Barajas, Alfred Edmond Jr. of Black Enterprise, Mark Ferguson, Bill Imada of IW Group, Assata Peterson, Tennille M. Robinson of Inc. Magazine, Matt Sapaula of The Money Smart Guy, Juan Solana of Hispanic Business Magazine, and Igwe E. Udeh of Southern University at New Orleans.
Phase 1 runs through August 1st and is the entry period for 21 and older competitiors to submit their business information. Phase 2 narrows the competition down to 25 semifinalists who will compete in live pitch events in cities across the country including Phoenix. Phase 2 also includes $20,000 for each semifinalist. The final phase will choose from five winners out of each market who will present in front of a panel of judges. The winning team will receive a grand prize of $250,000. Tap the Future also integrates consumers by allowing them to vote online throughout the competition. The top five teams as voted by consumers will win $10,000 each.
Tap the Future has a true focus on building a business and a business’s relationships. “Many of today’s greatest companies were started by a group of friends with a good idea, which is what Miller Time is all about: great times with good friends,” said Steve Canal, MillerCoors manager of community commerce and partnerships. “Tap the Future will provide the tools and funds to help bring those ideas to life. It’s an exciting program that celebrates great friends coming together to create great businesses.”
To be eligible for entry, all contests must be over 21 years old and be legal residents of the United States. Businesses cannot be franchises or 501-c non-profit organizations. They must be a U.S. entity and they are not eligible if any member of the team has already won a business grant from MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series, the OE 800 Making It Real Business Grant Competition, the Recycling Black Dollars Making It Real Business Grant Competition sponsored by Miller Brewing Company, the Recycling Black Dollars Urban Entrepreneurs Series Business Grant Competition, or the Miller Urban Entrepreneurs Series Business Plan Competition.
For more information, click here.