For the past several months, 20 entrepreneurs and small businesses have been developing the tools, the strategy and the mindset to grow their business as part of the 2026 Fort Worth Business Plan Competition. Now, the top eight competitors will be moving on to the Finale, and that much closer to a shot at one of the top three cash prizes.
The Top 8 will be pitching their completed business plan before an audience and a panel of judges from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St.
Tickets are available online. RSVPs are required for seating count and food.
These businesses will be pitching in the Finale:
- Articulate Your Value is a private-sector workforce development and talent advancement firm that supports students, job seekers and professionals through customized training and coaching.
- DMG Notaries is a document-signing service that helps streamline complex real estate closings across the country.
- ICONIER Digital Marketing Agency is a full-service digital marketing agency that helps small and mid-sized businesses turn online visibility into real customers.
- MLK Prearrangements offers personalized funeral pre-planning through 40-plus funeral homes in the Fort Worth area.
- Open-Minded Counseling provides affirmative and inclusive mental health and wellness services that support a person’s mind, body and spirit.
- Panther City Eye Care is a locally owned optometry practice in the Riverside neighborhood that provides accessible, high-quality, patient-centered care that improves vision and promotes lifelong eye health.
- Sultrosium Wellness offers personalized wellness plans rooted in comprehensive hormonal testing, food sensitivity testing and precision-crafted supplement protocol.
- The West Wellness and Massage is Fort Worth’s only integrated wellness center that combines medically supervised care with luxury spa services.
The Top 8 businesses will make a three-minute pitch to the judging panel, followed by a two-minute round of Q&A. Ultimately, three of them will take home cash prizes — $4,000 for third place, $6,000 for second place and $10,000 for the grand prize winner.
The Fort Worth Business Plan Competition is currently in its 15th year.
The 2026 competition is once again sponsored by the City of Fort Worth’s Economic Development Department and Frost Bank. Supporting mentors and coaches include Accelerate Fort Worth, Ensemble Coworking, Foundations EDC, SCORE Fort Worth, TechFW and TEI Consulting, as well as Cynthia Harnest and Sam Emmerson.
