Minnow Tank Business Competition — 2026
$10,000 in cash awards for rural entrepreneurs in northeast Montana.

Guidelines & Application Procedures

The Minnow Tank Competition is a two-phase business funding contest designed to evaluate viable, for-profit businesses operating in Northeastern Montana.

Phase I — Business Plan Submission

Deadline: March 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM (MST)
Online submissions only. Late or incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

All applicants must submit a complete business plan through the Minnow Tank online application system. GNDC recommends using LivePlan to prepare and submit your plan.

To request free access to LivePlan or receive assistance, contact:
Quincy Walter, SBDC Business Advisor
sbdc@gndc.org | 406-653-2590 ext. 203

Business Plan Requirements

Business plans must be no more than 20 pages and include the following sections:

• Executive Summary

• Company Summary

• Products and/or Services Summary

• Market Analysis Summary

• Strategy and Implementation Summary

• Management Summary

• Financial Plan, including:

  • Three (3) years of financial projections

  • Cash flow projections

• Community Impact Summary addressing:

  • How the business will enhance Northeastern Montana

  • Why the business stands out from competitors

All required financial documents must be included. Incomplete submissions may be disqualified or scored lower.

Eligibility (Phase I Snapshot)

You are eligible to apply if you:

• Are 18 years of age or older

• Are a legal U.S. resident

• Operate, or plan to operate, a for-profit business

• Intend to operate in Daniels, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, or Valley County

• Submit a complete application and business plan by March 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM (MST)

Phase II — Minnow Tank Live Pitch

Finalist Notification: March 24, 2026 by 5:00 PM (MST)

Selected finalists will be invited to participate in a live pitch event and present their business to a panel of judges.

Live Pitch Details

• Date: April 30, 2026

• Location: Glasgow, Montana

• Start Time: 5:30 PM

• Format:

  • Presentation and Q&A

  • Total time not to exceed 10 minutes

Visual aids, products, and digital presentations are permitted; however, finalists are responsible for making all arrangements in advance to use these materials during the event.

Winners will be announced the evening of the live pitch. In the event of a tie, prize funds may be split at the judges’ discretion.

Additional Conditions

• Submission of an application does not guarantee selection or funding.

• All information provided must be true, accurate, and complete.

• GNDC reserves the right to disqualify applications that do not meet eligibility requirements or submission standards.

• Participation may require acknowledgment of GNDC and SBDC support through standard promotional and reporting channels.

Minnow Tank Phase 1 & 2 Rubric

Minnow Tank uses a transparent, two-phase scoring process designed to be fair, consistent, and mission-driven.

Phase 1 – Business Plan (70%)

Judges review written business plans using criteria that assess:

• Clarity of the business concept

• Understanding of the customer and market

• Competitive strategy and execution plan

• Management readiness

• Financial realism

• Community impact in Northeastern Montana

Plans are evaluated on both quality and feasibility. Judges look for realistic assumptions and thoughtful planning — not perfection.

Phase 2 – Live Pitch (25%)

Finalists present their business to judges and the public. Judges score:

• Clarity and organization of the presentation

• Understanding of the customer problem

• Market opportunity and value proposition

• Competitive advantage

• Community impact

Audience Vote (5%)

Audience voting provides community input but does not determine final outcomes.

What Judges Value Most

• Clear thinking

• Honest assumptions

• Practical next steps

• Strong alignment with Northeastern Montana’s needs

We know firsthand that rural businesses often face challenges not found in larger markets — but we also know the potential is just as strong. That’s why we’re proud to announce the 4th Minnow Tank Business Plan Competition, with the live finale coming to Glasgow in April 2026.

Minnow Tank is our region’s version of Shark Tank — tailored for entrepreneurs and small business owners across seven northeast Montana counties. Participants walk through a full development process: business planning, pitch preparation, and community exposure. At the finale, they present their ideas to a panel of judges and compete for a share of the $10,000 prize fund.

This program works — and we have the numbers to prove it. Since the first Minnow Tank in 2018, we’ve worked directly with over 45 businesses, and more than 70% of them are still operating or have successfully launched. These aren’t just presentations — they’re real businesses getting a real start.

We’re currently seeking sponsors to help fund this year’s prize pool. Your donation will go entirely to the winning entrepreneurs — not to administration, staff time, or marketing. You’ll be helping to directly fuel local business creation and growth.

Great Northern Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and your contribution is fully tax-deductible within IRS guidelines (Tax ID: 81-0494064). Enclosed you’ll find a donor commitment form outlining several sponsorship tiers with corresponding recognition — including event placement, advertising, and year-round visibility through GNDC.

Whether you’re a past supporter or new to Minnow Tank, we’d love to have you involved. If you have questions or would like to talk about sponsorship options, feel free to contact me directly or reach out to our Executive Director, Tori Matejovsky, at tmatejovsky@gndc.org..

Thank you for investing in the future of rural entrepreneurship. We couldn’t do this without partners like you.

Sponsorship Form