St. Pete Pitch Night Returns May 6th for Small Business Week with Bold New Finalists

St. Pete Pitch Night Returns May 6th for Small Business Week with Bold New Finalists

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — May 1, 2025 — St. Pete Pitch Night, the city’s premier startup showcase, is back with an exciting lineup of innovative entrepreneurs ready to take center stage on Tuesday, May 6th at 5:00 PM. 

Please note: The event will now be held at Black Leaf Cigar & Lounge (237 2nd Avenue S, St. Pete, FL 33701). This stylish, locally owned lounge offers an intimate and elevated atmosphere—perfect for high-energy networking and an inspiring pitch competition.

Five dynamic startups will compete for funding and recognition in front of a live audience and expert panel of judges:

• Connect & Protect – Matthew Beighey
  A mental health support platform created specifically for first responders. This app offers anonymous, real-time connections with peer support teams to address stress, trauma, and substance abuse, building a culture of compassion and resilience.
  
  
• Bike911 – Brian Peret
  Developed by a team of local tech leaders, Bike911 is an innovative safety and support solution for cyclists. Brian Peret brings deep experience in software engineering and tech education through his work with CodeBoxx Academy and Blackburg.
  
  
• City Battles – Rob Sanchez
  Gamifying city exploration, City Battles turns discovering your city into a friendly competition. Rob brings his UI/UX and community-building expertise from leading I Love the Burg and That’s So Tampa.
  
  
• Hablamigo – Jamilet Figueroa
  An empowering app for parents and speech therapists, Hablamigo supports children with speech delays using expert-informed tools. Founded by certified speech-language pathologist Jamilet Figueroa, the app brings clarity and connection to communication challenges.
  
  
• FareFood – Michael Otis
  FareFood is transforming how restaurants buy ingredients by streamlining supplier comparisons and orders. Michael, a serial entrepreneur and Y Combinator alum, is back in St. Pete with a new venture focused on saving restaurants time and money.
  
  

Meet Our Judges

Our expert panel includes:

• Elisa Caro – Chief Revenue Officer, Smart Choice Communications
• Johnny Saye – Co-Founder, Stale Chips
• Jeremy Beal – Tech Founder & Investor
• Tricia Johnson – Senior VP & Market Executive, Regions Bank
• Forbes Riley – Actor, Entrepreneur & Industry Leader
  
  

Your Emcee for the Evening: Sandra “Sandy” Bean

Award-winning community builder and founder of St. Pete Girl Boss, Sandy Bean brings her dynamic energy and inclusive spirit to the mic as emcee. With over 8,500 women in her network and a stack of awards under her belt, Sandy is a force of encouragement, connection, and creativity.

The evening will also feature a special performance by Zubrick Magic Theater, an experience that is exclusively for Chamber guests at Pitch Night. 

This event is free and open to the public—but registration is required.

👉 Register here: https://business.stpete.com/eventcalendar/

Event Details:

📍 New Location: Black Leaf Cigar & Lounge, 237 2nd Avenue S, St. Pete, FL 33701
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, May 6th
🕕 Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM

Come for the pitches, stay for the connections. Join us for a night of bold ideas, bright minds, and local innovation at its finest.

Questions? Please contact Lauren Frawley at lfrawley@stpete.com.

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Concerned about smokiness?

While the event is being hosted at a cigar lounge, guests can rest assured that the main event space is completely smoke-free. The lounge includes a sealed private room designated for smoking, but it will remain closed throughout our event. If any guests wish to smoke, they’ll be asked to step outside. We’re confident you’ll enjoy a clean, comfortable atmosphere for the entire evening.