2023 Pitch for Growth Applications Now Being Accepted!

Charlotte, NC Skyline from Marshall Park

SCORE Charlotte

Serving greater Charlotte, NC

Our Mentors are experienced entrepreneurs, corporate managers, and executives with a diverse set of industries and specialties who volunteer their experience and knowledge to help small business professionals start, develop, and grow businesses. We offer free and confidential mentoring along with low-cost or no-cost business training, and numerous templates and tools.

Find a Mentor

Take a Workshop

Left to right: Kim Smith, Creative Director, TCG Design, Kevin Saint Cyr, SCORE Mentor

Impact Your Community

Since 1964, SCORE has educated and mentored more than 11 million small business owners and entrepreneurs. We're looking for people with diverse backgrounds and experiences to serve in a variety of roles — from knowledgeable business mentors to local community advocates.

Become a Volunteer

SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth has opened!

Applications are now open thru September 29

You’ll pitch your business and compete against other local entrepreneurs to win cash prizes and valuable business services. There will be three cash prizes awarded, $5000 First Place, Second and Third place Winners of Distinction will receive $2500 each. There will also be a Special People's Choice award.

The SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth 2023 represents a great opportunity to gain visibility for your business, network with local resources, mentors and advisors, and other small business owners in your community. Come and meet local bankers, investors, marketing experts and others who can provide valuable feedback!

Applications for the event are now being accepted until 5:00PM ET on September 29, 2023 for the Live Event to be held in November.

Learn More! Sign up for Updates!

black business woman giving flipchart presentation in the office.

Upcoming Local Events

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business #1 - September 28th

Start-up Basics: This introductory workshop focuses on the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors that influence start-up success.

Start-up Basics provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need when deciding to start a business.

In this session, you learn about: the advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, the most profitable form for your business, and the fundamentals of formation, organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources.

Sales Fundamentals

In this class, learn an ethical, relationship-based, model of sales. Learn the many ways Sales helps your business survive and grow. Begin creating your own sales process that goes from prospect to customer and the vital steps in between.

How to Start a Small Business

Bring order to the chaos of starting a small business. Learn 10 key topics every business owner needs to know and start mapping your own plan for starting a small business. Fast-paced, interactive, co-taught class with a workbook to organize key ideas.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with SCORE!

Over the past decade, Hispanic-owned small businesses have made a significant impact, boasting a 34% growth rate and contributing a remarkable $500 billion to the U.S. economy. Yet, amidst this impressive growth, Hispanic business owners face genuine challenges.

But you don't have to navigate these challenges alone. SCORE is here to support you. We've been instrumental in helping countless Hispanic entrepreneurs find success in their small businesses. Just ask Sandra Vazquez, Owner & Operator of SWT Fitness, who said, "SCORE helped me develop the roadmap I needed to secure funding and expand my gym into a prime retail location."

Discover how SCORE has empowered small business owners like Sandra to start and grow their enterprises. Your business could be the next success story we celebrate!

Visit the Hispanic Entrepreneurs Hub

Sandra Vazquez and her team in SWT Fitness

See All Resources

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SCORE for All

We believe that anyone can start and manage a successful small business. We also know that the road is harder for some than for others. Diverse backgrounds, different voices and unique needs may call for specialized resources and mentoring approaches. SCORE is listening, recognizes these diverse needs, and provides personalized support in a wholly-inclusive platform called SCORE for All.

Visit SCORE for All

Original text

SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth has opened!

Applications are now open thru September 29

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with SCORE!