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 began with over 500 submissions, aims to discover promising entrepreneurs and provide them with resources from Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, a free platform offering online courses, coaching, and networking.
The finalists are: The Balm Box (Overland Park, KS), founded by six-time cancer survivor Liz Benditt, which ships care packages for cancer patients; House of Perna (Delray Beach, FL), a sustainable fashion house by designer Amanda Perna; TWB Tours (Seattle, WA), a tour company highlighting local culture and small businesses, founded by Marlie and Anthony Love; and Renewed Focus (New York, NY), a therapy practice led by Melissa Robinson-Brown focusing on women’s mental health.
Donna Epps, Verizon’s Chief Responsible Business Officer, noted that major events like the FIFA World Cup offer small businesses visibility and that Verizon is committed to supporting them through Digital Ready. The finalists will pitch to a panel including two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, who emphasized the importance of small businesses to communities. Winners will receive cash prizes, tickets to the World Cup final, and mentorship on using artificial intelligence in their businesses.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, launched in 2020, has already helped over 600,000 business owners, with a goal to support 1 million by 2030. All Super Pitch participants received pitch coaching from Precious Williams, founder of the Perfect Pitch Group and a Shark Tank participant, who also hosted workshops at semifinal events. To RSVP for the July 17 event, visit https://events.bizzabo.com/SettingthePitch. For more on the competition and to register for Digital Ready, visit https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-program.
