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Youngstown Business Incubator seeking pitches for local Shark Tank, $10k prizes

2024 YBI Celebrity Sharks (Left to right): Bo Pelini (American football coach, Former player, & Investor), Ashley Vidale (CEO of Sapphire Aesthetics and Wellness), Sam Boak (President and Founder of Boak & Sons, Inc.), YBI CEO Barb Ewing, Stacy Howlett (president & CEO of Howlett Logistics, President of Howlett Holdings, Vice President of Howlett Restaurant Group, & Vice President of Howlett Racing), and MC for YBI Shark Tank, Steve Vesey with WFMJ
2024 YBI Celebrity Sharks (Left to right): Bo Pelini (American football coach, Former player, & Investor), Ashley Vidale (CEO of Sapphire Aesthetics and Wellness), Sam Boak (President and Founder of Boak & Sons, Inc.), YBI CEO Barb Ewing, Stacy Howlett (president & CEO of Howlett Logistics, President of Howlett Holdings, Vice President of Howlett Restaurant Group, & Vice President of Howlett Racing), and MC for YBI Shark Tank, Steve Vesey with WFMJ

Local business owners and entrepreneurs with a new money-making idea for a business or product they believe in can now apply for this fall’s Shark Tank put on by the Youngstown Business Incubator.

At YBI Shark Tank, selected participants pitch their ideas in front of a live audience for the chance to win investment and exposure to customers.

A minimum of $10,000 in prizes will be awarded as selected by the YBI Celebrity Sharks and audience members.

YBI held a launch party announcing the panel of five local celebrity sharks for the 2024 competition: Bo Pelini, Ashley Vidale, Sam Boak, Stacy Howlett and Rob Cochran.

YBI also thanked sponsors at the launch party last Thursday at the B&O Station Banquet Hall at 530 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown.

How to apply

YBI Shark Tank is happening at 5 p.m. Oct. 24 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Hall

Fill out an application online by 5 p.m. on Aug. 5.

Send an email to YBISharkTank@ybi.org if you have questions.

What does YBI do?

YBI helps promote economic development and small business in the Mahoning Valley and northeast Ohio area.

Last year, YBI served over 1,000 local individuals, created/retained over 400 jobs, and raised $150 million.

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