Leonardtown, MD – PaxSpace, Inc. (www.paxspace.org) and the Southern Maryland Innovation and Technology (SMIT) Initiative (https://www.meetup.com/Southern-Maryland-Innovation-and-Tech/) will host the 3rd annual Crab Pot Business Pitch Competition. Crab Pot is for individuals living or working in Southern Maryland or businesses that have a presence in Southern Maryland. Made popular by television shows like ABC’s “Shark Tank,” pitch contests provide an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their ideas to a panel of judges or investors in front of a live audience.

Eighteen contestants will compete in a Semi-Final Speed Round this Thursday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Elements Eatery and Mixology, 46540 Three Notch Road, in Lexington Park. Each contestant will have 90 seconds to present their innovative product or idea. Audience members will then select five finalists to compete in Crab Pot.

The finalists will return on May 11 to vie for the $5,000 first place cash prize in the Crab Pot Business Pitch Competition at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, 22156 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park at 6 p.m. The first place winner will receive the cash prize, business consulting services and, of course, a bushel of crabs! Crab Pot creates a wonderful opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the region’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

To participate in the selection of the semi-finalists during the Speed Round, or to attend the Crab Pot Pitch Competition, registration is requested at SMIT Meetup, (https://www.meetup.com/Southern-Maryland-Innovation-and-Tech/) but is not required. Both events are free to attend.

The Economic Development Departments in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles Counties, ETC’s TechFire Incubator, Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation and the Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Naval Surface Warfare Center – Indian Head Technology Transfer Offices and other sponsors make Crab Pot possible.

PaxSpace is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) maker space located in Hollywood, MD. PaxSpace provides training and resources for community members to collaborate and create innovative projects. SMIT is a regional initiative designed to ignite and fuel technology entrepreneurship by fostering an inclusive and collaborative ecosystem in Southern Maryland.

For more information visit www.crabpot.org/crabpot or email crabpot@paxspace.org