On Friday, July 17, 2026, just days before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, four American small businesses will compete in the Verizon Small Business Super Pitch at the Antique Loft in Hoboken, New Jersey. The competition seeks to spotlight the resilience and impact of small businesses nationwide. The finalists were selected from over 500 submissions and won regional rounds before advancing to the finals.
The four 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 founded by Marlie and Anthony Love offering local cultural experiences; and Renewed Focus (New York, NY), a therapy practice led by Melissa Robinson-Brown focusing on women's mental health.
Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform has provided free resources to these entrepreneurs, including online courses and coaching. The competition began with business owners posting videos on social media about using the platform to improve their pitches. The final four will present to a panel including two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, who stated, "Succeeding as a small business is like soccer. It takes daily hard work and the right coaching." All finalists will receive tickets to the World Cup final and mentorship on using artificial intelligence in their businesses.
Verizon's commitment extends beyond the competition; the Digital Ready program has helped over 600,000 business owners since 2020, aiming to support 1 million by 2030. Participants received pitch training from Precious Williams, founder of the Perfect Pitch Group and a Verizon Digital Ready instructor. For more information on the event, visit the event page. To register for Small Business Digital Ready, go to Verizon's small business program page.
This event underscores the importance of small businesses as community anchors and the role of corporate initiatives in fostering their growth, especially during major cultural events like the World Cup.
