AI-assisted summary Near West Side Partners’ Rev-Up MKE competition returns for its eighth year with a new expo-style format.

The competition offers Milwaukee entrepreneurs a chance to win a rent-free pop-up shop, cash prizes, and business support.

Finalists will be announced in mid-August and will present their business ideas at The Rave on Sept. 8.

Applications are open until Aug. 3 and are available on the Near West Side Partners website.

Near West Side Partners’ annual Rev-Up MKE business competition is back for an eighth time.

Local entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their business ideas for an opportunity to manage a pop-up storefront in the Concordia 27 building, 801 N. 27th St., for three to six months.

The 2025 competition is using a different format. Near West Side Partners encourages contestants to use small business coaching before making a pitch.

Here’s what to know:

What is the process?

This year’s event will incorporate an expo-style format. Each entrepreneur will have a booth where they can showcase their idea and interact with attendees, said Lindsey St. Arnold Bell, NWSP executive director.

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A panel of judges will evaluate and select a winner. Also, attendees can vote for their favorite business – determining the audience choice award recipient.

Finalists will be announced in mid-August, and will present their business ideas on Sept. 8 at The Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. There will be about 15 to 20 finalists, said St. Arnold Bell.

Rev-Up MKE will offer finalists mentorship and technical assistance. The support includes workshops prior to the event.

What do winners get?

Rev-Up MKE’s winner gets to launch their business in a rent-free pop-up space at Concordia 27.

The first-place finisher also receives $5,000 in cash for business investment, as well as business coaching, social media help, and marketing support.

Town Bank is sponsoring the competition.

There also are cash prizes for second place, the audience choice award, and community impact award. Resources and support will be available for all participants.

Why did the competition format change?

The competition’s fundamentals will remain the same, said St. Arnold Bell.

In previous competitions, only four to five participants were selected to perform live pitches in front of a panel of judges.

By changing it to an expo-style format, more entrepreneurs can be included. It also allows people who may have stage fright the opportunity to connect with judges one-on-one.

How do you apply?

Applications are open until Aug. 3. at 11:59 p.m. They are available on the Near West Side Partners website and at the group’s office in Concordia 27.

Those interested need not be established business owners – so long as they have a written business plan and a semblance of their financial plan, said St. Arnold Bell.

Who was last year’s winner?

Mercedez Butts, founder and executive director of Joyce’s Legacy Learning Center, 5601 W. North Ave., won the 2024 Rev-Up.

She started her business, previously known as Joyce’s House Education Center, in 2019 as a sober living home for women recovering from addiction. In 2023, it pivoted to focus on adult education and family literacy.

Butts decided to join last year’s competition after discovering about 60% of her organization’s students come from the near west side.

She was nervous, but found Rev-Up had a supportive nature.

“You are being vulnerable to a degree of sharing your baby – your baby, as in your business – with a panel of people, and they’re reading about it before they actually get to meet you,” Butts said.

“So that was a little bit scary, but once I got past that…I felt like home, honestly. It’s a magic right there,” she said.