Industrial Development Authority Invests $20,000 in BizLaunch Pitch
December 19, 2025 | By Alex Held
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Arlington Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has invested $20,000 in the BizLaunch Transformational Challenge and PitchFest, boosting the prize fund for the annual small-business competition.
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the IDA approved the contribution to support entrepreneurs competing for more than $20,000 in cash prizes. “The IDA is pleased to support the BizLaunch program. Small businesses account for over 45 percent of private sector employment, and drive the majority of net job creation. Supporting small business in Arlington spurs economic growth and helps diversity the County’s economic base, which are core to the IDA’s mission,” says Edwin Fountain, Chair Arlington Industrial Development Authority.
The BizLaunch Transformational Challenge and PitchFest is a five-week program designed to help small businesses and startups sharpen their strategies for 2026. Participants attend workshops on business planning, marketing, finance, artificial intelligence and pitch development. After completing the program, they work one-on-one with mentors to refine their pitch decks before presenting to judges.
“We’re excited to support small businesses and give them an extra boost in the new year,” said Tara Palacios, Director of BizLaunch. The program, now in its third year, has graduated 65 businesses since launching in 2024.
In addition to the IDA’s investment, the prize fund is supported by registration fees and contributions from sponsors, such as the Ballston Business Improvement District.
“Access to capital continues to be a challenge for early-stage startups, with many entrepreneurs investing significant personal funds to get started,” said BizLaunch counselor Alex Held. “We’re thrilled to help more participants this year through this additional investment while still leveraging outside resources.”
The 2026 cohort is nearly sold out. Entrepreneurs interested in competing for cash prizes and scaling their businesses should sign up today!