Eight Fort Worth entrepreneurs and small businesses have earned a shot at a $10,000 grand prize, and they will find out who wins it in front of a live crowd next Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The finale runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the museum, located at 3200 Darnell St., capping off months of competition that started with 20 local businesses.
According to fortworthinc.com, the eight finalists advancing to the stage are Articulate Your Value, DMG Notaries, ICONIER Digital Marketing Agency, MLK Prearrangements, Open-Minded Counseling, Panther City Eye Care, Sultrosium Wellness, and The West Wellness and Massage. Each business will get three minutes to pitch judges, followed by two minutes of questions, per the same report. The City of Fort Worth
promoted the event on social media this week, urging residents to come out and cheer on the competitors.
Twenty Hopefuls Narrowed to an Elite Eight
The eight finalists emerged from a group of 20 entrepreneurs and small businesses that spent several months developing business plans, growth strategies and other tools, the report notes. Along the way, the field of 20 took part in business development workshops, mentorship opportunities and pitch practice sessions with local partners and Frost Bank, according to fortworthbusiness.com. That outlet describes the contest as an annual celebration of Fort Worth's entrepreneurial spirit that doubles as both a showcase and a training ground for small businesses.
To even qualify for the competition, businesses had to meet a specific set of criteria: operating for at least two years but no more than five, maintaining a physical address within Fort Worth city limits, and generating less than $1 million in annual revenue, according to dallasexpress.com.
Twenty Thousand Dollars on the Line
The total prize pool comes to $20,000, split among three winners: $10,000 for the grand-prize champion, $6,000 for second place and $4,000 for third, per fortworthinc.com's report. This marks the 15th year the city has run the competition, which is sponsored by the City of Fort Worth's Economic Development Department and Frost Bank.
Tickets for the finale are available online, and organizers are asking attendees to RSVP so they can plan for seating and food counts, the report states. Fort Worth's Economic Development Department describes its broader mission as promoting a strong local economy and growing city businesses, according to fortworthtexas.gov.
Last Year's Winner Set the Bar
At the 2025 finale, Wai-Yan Htun of XO Halal walked away with the $10,000 grand prize, while Ricquel Archer of Create + Collaborate took second place's $6,000 and Nicholas Ditto of Fort Worth STEAM Academy claimed third place's $4,000, according to fortworthreport.org. That report also noted businesses from nine of Fort Worth's 10 council districts took part in last year's cohort, underscoring how far the competition's reach extends across the city.
Whoever takes the stage this year will be hoping to follow that same path from pitch deck to payday. With RSVPs open and the clock ticking toward Thursday evening, Fort Worth's small business community will soon find out which of its eight finalists walks away with the city's biggest entrepreneurial bragging rights.
