Adventure Pitch Fest

Adventure Pitch Fest is a New Mexico outdoor recreation business showcase and live pitch competition presented by the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division in partnership with ActivateNM. The event celebrates New Mexico's $3.6 billion outdoor recreation industry and is designed to give outdoor businesses and organizations exposure to investors, customers, economic developers, industry professionals, peers, potential partners, and outdoor recreation decision-makers. The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division states that it works to ensure New Mexicans benefit from the public health, environmental, and economic advantages of sustainable outdoor recreation. ActivateNM supports established and aspiring New Mexico founders through mentorship, events, and other resources intended to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Adventure Pitch Fest offers two related participation opportunities: showcasing and the Pitch Battle. Any qualifying outdoor recreation nonprofit or business may apply for a showcase booth or table, while the competitive pitch opportunity is restricted to for-profit companies. Applicants may select the Pitch Battle, a showcase booth or table, or both. Showcase participants receive an indoor event space with an 8-foot table and two chairs and opportunities to present products or services, make connections, and gain visibility through event promotion. Pitch Battle finalists receive the showcase benefits plus stage time to present their businesses before event attendees, potential investors, customers, economic developers, and industry leaders. Finalists also receive two minutes of questions from judges. The top two finalists advance to a final Pitch Battle. Eligible applicants must be headquartered in New Mexico and have a core offering related to outdoor recreation. Qualifying offerings may include products and services that promote health, wellness, or environmental stewardship. Showcasing is available to outdoor recreation nonprofits and businesses, but Pitch Battle applicants must be for-profit companies. Pitch applicants must additionally demonstrate potential for growth, community benefit, and/or environmental stewardship. Pitch applicants must have an active company website. The company contest representative must be a CEO, founder, business owner, co-founder, or key spokesperson authorized to represent the business. Pitch competitors must also be able to participate in the stated orientation and in-person competition dates. The Pitch Battle provides a total of $15,000 in cash prizes. First place receives $10,000 and second place receives $5,000, resulting in two identified cash awards and a $15,000 total prize pool. The source does not state a matching or cost-sharing requirement, restrictions on how the cash prizes may be spent, an award performance period, or other post-award spending conditions. Accordingly, no additional allowable-use, cost-share, or expenditure restrictions can be established from the provided material. Applications are submitted through the provided Formstack application. Required information includes applicant email, participation selection, company name, headquarters city and state, company website, company representative and logistics contact information, a one-line business summary, prior Adventure Pitch participation, number of employees, length of time in business, attendance commitment, phone number, estimated revenue generated from sales during the past 12 months, customer or community traction, customer or market validation, the problem or need addressed by the product or service, the company's revenue model and anticipated financial, community, or environmental impact, and its five-year vision. Applicants may submit up to two one-minute pitch videos by uploading files under 20 megabytes or submitting links. Pitch applicants are evaluated on Team or Individual, Market and Impact Potential, Product/Service, Traction & Community Engagement, and Differentiation & Future Vision. Review considerations include the entrepreneur's or team's strengths, experience, relationships, skills, and passion; definition of the target market and potential for growth or impact; the value, uniqueness, or need for the product or service in New Mexico's outdoor recreation economy; evidence of momentum through customers, revenue, partnerships, events, or community participation; and the business's differentiation and future ability to thrive. Judges are described as a combination of investors, economic developers, outdoor professionals, and successful entrepreneurs. Accepted pitch finalists are instructed to save October 13 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. for a virtual Pitch Finalist orientation with ActivateNM and November 6 from 1:00-8:00 p.m. for Adventure Pitch Fest setup, the event, and wrap-up. The source does not identify the year for these dates. Finalists must also attend two pitch coaching sessions before the competition, with dates to be determined. No application opening date, application submission deadline, award notification date, or recurring application schedule is stated in the supplied material. Questions may be directed to info@activatenm.com.

Align the application and pitch with the five stated judging areas: Team or Individual, Market and Impact Potential, Product/Service, Traction & Community Engagement, and Differentiation & Future Vision. Clearly demonstrate relevant team strengths, define the target market, explain the offering's value in New Mexico's outdoor recreation economy, provide concrete evidence of traction or community participation, and show how the business can grow or create community or environmental impact.