On Friday, July 17, 2026, days before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, four American small businesses will compete in Verizon’s Small Business Super Pitch at the Antique Loft in Hoboken, NJ. The competition, which highlights the grit and impact of everyday entrepreneurs, brings together finalists selected from over 500 submissions and four regional rounds.
The finalists are: The Balm Box (Overland Park, KS), founded by six-time cancer survivor Liz Benditt, which ships research-backed care packages for cancer patients; House of Perna (Delray Beach, FL), a fashion house by designer Amanda Perna focusing on sustainable, bold-print clothing; TWB Tours (Seattle, WA), a Pacific Northwest tour company by Marlie and Anthony Love offering local culture and history experiences; and Renewed Focus (New York, NY), a therapy practice by Melissa Robinson-Brown that provides care for women.
Verizon’s Small Business Super Pitch is part of the company’s broader initiative, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, a free platform offering online courses, coaching, funding, and networking. Since its launch in 2020, the program has helped over 600,000 business owners, with a goal to support 1 million by 2030. “Big cultural events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 offer unparalleled opportunities for small businesses to gain widespread visibility and thrive,” said Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer for Verizon.
The final four will pitch to a panel of judges, including two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, for cash prizes and two tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. “Succeeding as a small business is like soccer. It takes daily hard work and the right coaching,” said Lloyd. In addition to prizes, all finalists will receive expert mentorship on using artificial intelligence in their businesses, as Verizon aims to help small businesses succeed in a digital world.
All participants in the Super Pitch received guidance from Precious Williams, Founder and CEO of the Perfect Pitch Group and a Verizon Small Business Digital Ready instructor. Williams conducted pitch workshops at each semifinal event. The competition underscores Verizon’s investment in small business community development, with Digital Ready available to all U.S. small businesses regardless of whether they are Verizon customers.
For more information on the competition and to register for Small Business Digital Ready, visit https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-program. To RSVP for the event on July 17, visit https://events.bizzabo.com/SettingthePitch.
This announcement was originally published by Verizon. Verizon Communications Inc. powers and empowers millions of customers, delivering mobility, reliable network connectivity, and security. In 2025, Verizon generated revenues of $138.2 billion.
