News
Local entrepreneurs pitch for $5,000 cash at Kearney’s Big Idea competition
Big ideas and community spirit came together Thursday night inside the Archway for the annual Big Idea Buffalo County Pitch Competition.
Thursday, October 23rd 2025, 4:34 PM CDT
Updated:
KEARNEY, Neb. — Big ideas and community spirit came together Thursday night inside the Archway for the annual Big Idea Buffalo County Pitch Competition, where local entrepreneurs shared their best business concepts in front of a panel of judges and a live audience.
The event gives innovators across the region a chance to showcase their creativity, test out ideas and receive valuable feedback and support.
Each contestant had just three minutes to pitch their business, followed by a brief Q & A with the judges.
The audience also got to take part in the process, voting alongside four community judges to help determine the winners. The top prize for this year’s competition includes $5,000 in cash and another $5,000 in mentorship and professional services, aimed at helping the winner refine their business plan and move closer to launch.
The first-place winner of this year's competition is Gunnar’s Place, which is a day care center for young children with special medical needs.
Contestants represented a range of backgrounds and industries, from handmade products and hospitality ventures to new technology and community-focused services.
The competition is known for drawing a mix of first-time entrepreneurs and returning participants who are refining ideas from previous years.
Hosted by the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development at UNK, along with several community sponsors, the event has become a highlight of the local business calendar.
Organizers say it helps keep momentum going for economic growth and innovation in central Nebraska.
A separate event, Big Idea UNK, is planned for next month and will feature University of Nebraska at Kearney students presenting their own business and product ideas.
The student-focused version of the competition helps young innovators gain early experience and connect with the local entrepreneurial network.
For many participants the experience provides exposure, and also lasting connections with mentors and business leaders who can help take their ideas further.
The event gives innovators across the region a chance to showcase their creativity, test out ideas and receive valuable feedback and support.
Each contestant had just three minutes to pitch their business, followed by a brief Q & A with the judges.
The audience also got to take part in the process, voting alongside four community judges to help determine the winners. The top prize for this year’s competition includes $5,000 in cash and another $5,000 in mentorship and professional services, aimed at helping the winner refine their business plan and move closer to launch.
The first-place winner of this year's competition is Gunnar’s Place, which is a day care center for young children with special medical needs.
Contestants represented a range of backgrounds and industries, from handmade products and hospitality ventures to new technology and community-focused services.
The competition is known for drawing a mix of first-time entrepreneurs and returning participants who are refining ideas from previous years.
Hosted by the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development at UNK, along with several community sponsors, the event has become a highlight of the local business calendar.
Organizers say it helps keep momentum going for economic growth and innovation in central Nebraska.
A separate event, Big Idea UNK, is planned for next month and will feature University of Nebraska at Kearney students presenting their own business and product ideas.
The student-focused version of the competition helps young innovators gain early experience and connect with the local entrepreneurial network.
For many participants the experience provides exposure, and also lasting connections with mentors and business leaders who can help take their ideas further.
