Minnow Tank Business Competition

Minnow Tank is GNDC's biannual business plan competition — and the region's biggest investment in local entrepreneurship. Each year, northeast Montana business owners and startup founders compete for cash awards by developing real business plans and presenting to a panel of judges.

Since launching, the competition has put over $40,000 directly into the hands of local business owners, with more than 75% of past finalists still operating today.
Over $40,000 awarded since 2018. These are real businesses in our communities- daycares, delis, breweries, & specialty shops — built by northeast Montanans with a goal to help make their local economies thrive!

Bringing opportunity to our commiunities

Phase 1 — Business Plan: 70%
Judges evaluate clarity of concept, market understanding, competitive strategy, management readiness, financial realism, and community impact.
Phase 2 — Live Pitch: 25%
Judges score presentation clarity, customer problem understanding, market opportunity, competitive advantage, and community impact.
Audience Vote: 5%
What judges look for most:
Clear thinking, honest assumptions, practical next steps, and strong alignment with northeast Montana's needs.

Application scoring

Finalists selected from Phase 1 are invited to present their business to a panel of judges at the live finale event in Glasgow. Presentations are 10 minutes total including Q&A. Visual aids and product samples are welcome.

Audience Vote: The public attends the finale and casts votes — worth 5% of the final score. Community support counts.

Phase 2 — Live Pitch

Submit a complete business plan through the Minnow Tank online application system. Plans must be no more than 35 pages and include an executive summary, company overview, products/services, market analysis, strategy, management summary, financial projections (3 years), and a community impact statement. Free access to LivePlan business planning software is available through the SBDC — contact Quincy Walter at [email protected] to get started.

Phase 1 — Business Plan Submission

How It Works

GNDC and SBDC offer free business plan writing workshops and one-on-one advising before the submission deadline — open to anyone, whether you apply to Minnow Tank or not. Strong plans lead to better businesses, and we'd rather help you build one right than watch a good idea fall short on paper.
Workshop Dates TBD— Plan, Launch, Grow

A free two-hour workshop covering business plan writing, financial projections, startup costs, and Minnow Tank scoring. Available in multiple locations:

Glasgow →
Wolf Point →
Sidney →
Jordan →
Circle →
Scobey →
Plentywood →

Contact Quincy Walter ·
[email protected] · (406) 653-2590 ext. 203

Minnow Tank is open to for-profit businesses operating — or planning to operate — in northeast Montana.
To be eligible you must:

Be 18 years of age or older
Be a legal U.S. resident
Operate or plan to operate a for-profit business in Daniels, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, or Valley County
Submit a complete business plan by the deadline

Nonprofit organizations are not eligible.