Fort Worth Business Plan Competition has returned for 2025 and is putting local small businesses back in the spotlight.
The Fort Worth Business Plan Competition is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that is one of the most beloved hallmarks of the city. Fort Worth’s trailblazing entrepreneurs are breaking new ground across a variety of different industries, and their work is helping build and shape the character of one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.
The Business Plan Competition is one way that the City of Fort Worth helps set the area’s small-business owners up for success. Research shows that entrepreneurs who operate based on a written plan improve their long-term ability to generate revenue and create jobs, and solid business plans are crucial when seeking out investors and other sources of funding.
After several weeks of workshops and coaching, participants will develop a comprehensive business plan that covers everything from market competitiveness to financial outlooks, with the goal of learning their business inside and out. Then it’s time to put their skills to the test at a final Pitch Night, with a total of $20,000 worth of cash prizes on the line.
Competition details
Applications for the Fort Worth Business Plan Competition are currently open on the City of Fort Worth website and will close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 15.
In order to be eligible for participation, applicants must have been in business for between two and five years, have a DBA or business location registered within the Fort Worth city limits and have an annual revenue of less than $1 million.
As part of the online application, applicants will be required to verify their eligibility by including a copy of their formation documents, which can be a DBA, certification from the State Secretary’s office or other legal business documentation.
Similar to previous years, the 2025 Business Plan Competition will feature cash-only prizes for the finalists, with $10,000 going to the first-place winner, $6,000 going to second place and $4,000 going to third place.
Once these applications are submitted, the Top 20 who will participate in classes with Frost Bank and City partners will be announced in late January.
Final business plans will be due Sunday, Aug. 17, and the Top 8 contestants will participate in the competition finale — a “pitch night” before a panel of judges — on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Frost Bank is the longtime co-sponsor of the Fort Worth Business Plan Competition. Coaching and professional development workshops will be provided by industry experts and partnerships with TechFW, Accelerate Fort Worth, Foundations EDC, Tarrant County Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE Fort Worth and others.
