If you are just starting your business, you do not need to have your business name yet! Please read directions below to make sure you include your preferred name (or your trade name, if a business) as title of application and your legal name (registered name, if a business) in the spaces below.

DSLBD intends to select pitch participants recipients through a competitive process. Applications that are submitted by the final deadline will be reviewed for completeness, and will be scored by a review committee. The review committee will score based on the questions in the application on the criteria below:

• Commitment to Aspire and to their business -- 40%
• Clarity of idea and goals – 20%
• Business viability – 20%
• Clear benefit for Aspire participation & funding – 20%

The questions are listed below in how they map to each portion of the evaluation. You do not need to write your personal statement: you can also record it as a video and either upload it OR submit a link to a YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Facebook, or another website link.

• Commitment to Aspire and to their business -- 40%
  
  • Personal Statement: Commitment is essential for a successful business and for a successful participation in WeAspire 2022. Tell us more about “Why Now” and “Why Aspire”? Why do you want this business to grow and where do you want to go with the business? (This can be video recorded.)
  • We know life happens, but commitment to attending this program is essential. Missing more than one session without an explanation may result in being disqualified from the program and the pitch competition. Will you be able to attend all Mondays and Wednesdays sessions, from 5:30 - 7 pm, for 12 weeks beginning on May 2 to August 3?
  • Statement of Support (from friend, family member, colleague, or supervisor):
• Clarity of idea and goals – 20%
  
  • How would you describe your business or business idea in 1 sentence?
  • Describe the size and stage of your business or your business idea. Include any of the following that are relevant for your business: number of clients / customers, number of full or part-time employees, sales (monthly or annually)
• Business viability – 20%
  
  • What experience do you have in this sector, if any? If an existing business, tell us about your successes. If a new business, feel free to include any type of experience, whether professional or personal. For example, “I always cooked with my grandmother and I want to bring her recipes to the public” or “I learned carpentry while incarcerated, and have now been making furniture for years.” If no experience, what makes you excited about the sector?
  • How does or how might your business make money? What will you be selling (product, service)?
  • What demonstrates the need for your business? For existing businesses, what/who is your market? For new businesses, what gap do you see in the community that your business will fill?
• Clear benefit for Aspire participation & funding – 20%
  
  • Participation in the classes is required to participate in Aspire Pitch and to receive awards from this program. With that in mind, if you receive $2,000 at the end of this program, how would you use it to further your business?
  • Why do you want to participate in the program? What makes you most excited to join WeAspire?

Please upload your message of support here. You can also upload a video version of your personal statement.

We ask for messages of support because it is essential to have a community of people -- or at least one person! -- who really supports you starting a business. We also know want to know that you're talking about your business and your dreams with others. For you to be committed to this program, and the time it takes, we want those around you to hold you accountable to these goals as well. 

Your letter or video of support should be from a supervisor, coach, friend, family member, or someone else who knows you well. They should convey how they see you committed to your business idea. They should also convey how you demonstrate your commitment to your business or to the other things you care about (your work or other commitments). Last, but not least, we want to hear from them why they think you'd be a great fit for Aspire.