“Shark Tank” Judge Returning to Atlanta Seeking Original Business Ideas

Patch Staff Report

Back for its second year, the Miller Lite Tap the Future business plan competition returns to Atlanta for its Live Pitch Event, where teams of business partners will deliver their best pitch for a chance to win big money.

Five semifinalist teams from Georgia and the surrounding states will pitch their businesses in front of a live audience at Midtown's Opera Nightclub on Tuesday, June 10. The teams will be judged and receive feedback from some of the sharpest business minds in the country, most notably Daymond John from ABC’s “Shark Tank.” 

The top team will receive $20,000 and advance to the national finals where they will compete for a grand prize of $200,000.

Entrepreneur and business mogul John will be the lead judge at each of the live pitch events. “Entrepreneurship is a tough road that takes a lot of heart, dedication and discipline,” John said in a news release. “Miller Lite Tap the Future as a program gives these young businesses a great platform to learn and put in practice some of the most important elements in business, like pitching, networking and putting together a business plan. Most importantly, it gives them a chance to win grant money, which can really help a small business get a head start. I look forward to interacting with this year’s participants.”

Sitting alongside “The Shark” on the judging panel will be Lauren Miller and Rashid Mayes, friends and co-owners of Excelegrade, the world’s only digital assessment solution that allows students to show their work on tables, smart phones and laptops, and helps teachers and parents review student performance without hassles. Miller and Mays are also past recipients of a MillerCoors business grant.

Guest judge Marve Frazier, chief creative officer of Moguldom Media Group and CEO of Bossip.com, will also participate on the panel. The event will be hosted by Kenny Burns, vice president of marketing for Revolt TV, author of “The Dream is Real” and founder of the lifestyle, online magazine studio43.com.  

Event Details:
Where: Opera Nightclub, 1150 Crescent Avenue NE, Atlanta
When: June 10, 2014
· 7:00 p.m.: Doors open to the public.
· 7:30 p.m.: Teams begin pitching.

The event is open to consumers 21 and older who R.S.V.P. at www.MLTapTheFuture.com. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle and network, and three randomly selected entrepreneurs will get the chance to deliver a one-minute business pitch and receive valuable feedback from the panel of experts. The best pitch will win a $500 prize.

Miller Lite will host four additional live pitch events in Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia. The winners from each market will present before a national panel of judges in August and one team will win the grand prize of $200,000.

To RSVP and for official rules and information, visit www.MLTaptheFuture.com. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MillerLite or follow @MillerLite on Twitter.