On Friday, July 17, 2026, days before the FIFA World Cup 2026™ final, four American small businesses will compete in Verizon’s Small Business Super Pitch at the Antique Loft in Hoboken, NJ. The event showcases the grit and impact of everyday entrepreneurs, with finalists selected from over 500 submissions and four regional rounds.
The finalists include The Balm Box (Overland Park, KS), founded by six-time cancer survivor Liz Benditt, which ships care packages for cancer patients; House of Perna (Delray Beach, FL), a sustainable fashion house by designer Amanda Perna; TWB Tours (Seattle, WA), a tour company highlighting local culture and small businesses; and Renewed Focus (New York, NY), a therapy practice led by Melissa Robinson-Brown focusing on women’s mental health.
Donna Epps, Verizon’s Chief Responsible Business Officer, emphasized the importance of big cultural events like the World Cup for small business visibility. Verizon supports entrepreneurs through its Small Business Digital Ready program, offering free online courses, coaching, and networking.
In the initial competition phase, business owners posted videos on social media about using Digital Ready resources. Twenty were selected for semifinals in World Cup host cities. The final four will pitch to judges including two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, with winners receiving cash prizes and tickets to the World Cup final. Lloyd noted the parallels between small business success and soccer, emphasizing daily hard work and coaching.
All finalists will receive mentorship on using artificial intelligence in their businesses. Verizon’s Digital Ready program, free to all U.S. small businesses regardless of Verizon customer status, has helped over 600,000 owners since 2020, aiming to support 1 million by 2030.
Participants received pitch guidance from Precious Williams, founder of the Perfect Pitch Group and a Digital Ready instructor. Williams also hosted pitch workshops at semifinal events.
To RSVP for the event, visit https://events.bizzabo.com/SettingthePitch. More information on the competition and Digital Ready registration is available at Verizon’s Small Business Program page.
