Culpeper Competes

Culpeper Competes is designed to encourage and develop an entrepreneurial spirit through business development education and mentorships to guide participants through the process of launching or growing their business.

Course participation is required to compete.

Summer 2026	Application due
9/9/2026 – 10/14/2026	Required Courses
10/21/2026	Pitch Prep and Submit Detailed Business Plan
10/30/2026	Announcement of Pitch Finalist
11/18/2026	Pitch Competition (In-person)

Minimum Enrollment Requirement

The Culpeper Competes Fall 2026 Cohort is contingent upon meeting a minimum enrollment threshold. A minimum of 20 participants is required for the cohort to operate. If the minimum enrollment is not achieved by the registration deadline, organizers reserve the right to cancel, postpone, or combine the cohort with a future session. Registered participants will be notified promptly of any changes or if the cohort is canceled.

Awards

The competition will award up to $30,000 in business investment grants for start-up and existing businesses looking to expand with additional job creation in the Town of Culpeper, Virginia. The $30,000 business investment grants will be proportionately divided between multiple winners.

A streetscape featuring three distinct storefronts: a white building with "Corwin's" signage, a central red-brick building with a glass entrance, and a rustic brown building with "The Frenchman's Corner" signage. A few parked cars are visible on the street.

A quiet street intersection in a small town at dusk. Historic brick and wooden buildings with illuminated window displays line the street. Traffic lights are suspended above the roadway, and a red fire hydrant is visible on the sidewalk. The sky is partly cloudy.

Example Business Categories

Accommodations (i.e. hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, inn)
Agritourism (farm retail shop and or consumer services)
Arts, Entertainment, Experiential
Cultural, Educational, Instructional
Financial and Business Services
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Healthcare/Wellness
Information Technology, SaaS, Communications
Life Sciences, Biotech, Biomedicine
Light Manufacturing
Other
Personal Care (i.e. beauty/barbershop, nail salon, dry cleaner, spa)
Recreation
Restaurant/Food Service
Retail

Competitors will:

Attend eight required business development courses
Develop and submit a detailed business plan for scoring
Meet with experienced mentors from -Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC)
Pitch competition is in person at the Town’s Economic Development Center, 803 S. Main Street, Culpeper, VA, 22701

Competitors will be judged based on:

Eligible finalists will deliver a pitch presentation to a highly-regarded panel of professionals
Sales pitch
Oral presentation
Clarity and quality of written business plan
Market analysis
Financial analysis

Required Operational Footprint

Culpeper Competes competition grant recipients are required to operate their new and or expanding business within the following designated area.

The Town of Culpeper Economic Development and Tourism Department made this program possible through partnership with the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center. The program builds on business support strategies, placing the community at the heart of entrepreneurial and small business development.

For additional information, please contact:
Tori Buell, (540) 729 – 4657 or [email protected]