# A six-day window for a $100,000 pitch prize, plus up to $5,000 to throw a Newark holiday event > A $100,000 pitch prize takes entries for just six days in November, and the pitch is a 60-second video. Plus four more dated grants, from Newark holiday microgrants due Nov 6 to a Utah teen contest due Jan 9. By Jordan Menlo · Published October 22, 2026 Section: Business Funding › Grants · Series: Grant Finder (https://mcafax.com/notebook/category/grants) Canonical: https://mcafax.com/notebook/grant-finder-2026-10-23-100k-six-day-window-newark-holiday Source: MCAFax, The Broker's Notebook (https://mcafax.com/notebook). MCAFax is not a lender or a law firm. --- A $100,000 pitch prize opens next month for exactly six days. Entries run November 20 to November 25, and all you send is a video of 60 seconds or less. Miss that window and there's no late entry. So put it on your calendar now. Here's a hypothetical. Larkspur & Twine (a made-up gift shop in Newark) wants to run a free holiday craft market on its block in December. A Newark microgrant can cover part of it, and the deadline is two Fridays from now. Also below: a $5,000 boost for small businesses nationwide, an equipment grant in Salem, Virginia, and a $30,000 contest for Utah high schoolers. Grants are competitive. We opened every official page today; trust the page if a detail differs. Listed by deadline, soonest first. ## 1. Experience Newark Winter & Holidays Cycle (Newark, New Jersey) - Amount: Microgrants of $1,000 to $5,000 per event. - Who qualifies: Newark-based nonprofits, community groups, resident individuals, or Newark-based for-profit small businesses. Events must be winter, seasonal or holiday themed, open to the public, and free or low-cost. - The catch: The event has to happen between November 28 and December 31, 2026. Think markets, block parties, festivals and arts nights, not your rent. - Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026. Award notices go out November 18. - Official link: https://www.newarkhappening.com/opportunities/ ## 2. HelpBnk World's Biggest Business Competition (United States and dozens of other countries) - Amount: Awards of $5,000 each across five tracks (App Builder, E-commerce, Creator, Education and Services). One entrant wins a $100,000 grand prize instead. - Who qualifies: Anyone at least 18 who owns or controls the business, is a legal resident of a participating country, and is physically there when applying. The United States, Canada and the UK are on the current list. - The catch: Your 60-second video is the whole scored pitch, and the rules say AI may be used in judging. Ten finalists must pitch in person on December 2, 2026. Entry is free. - Deadline: Entries open November 20 and close Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UK time. - Official link: https://accelerator.helpbnk.com/terms ## 3. Shophand Small Business Boost Grant (nationwide) - Amount: A $5,000 package: $2,500 in cash plus $2,500 in Shophand tech and operations services. - Who qualifies: For-profit, U.S.-based businesses that are actively operating, with fewer than 50 employees and under $5 million in annual revenue. Solo owners are welcome. You must follow Shophand on Instagram, X, LinkedIn and Facebook. - The catch: It's free to apply, but the page says preference goes to applicants who used a paid Shophand service this cycle. Half the prize is services, not cash. - Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026. The winner is announced December 15. - Official link: https://www.shophand.com/small-business-boost-grant ## 4. Salem Small Business Equipment Investment Grant (Salem, Virginia) - Amount: Up to 50% of equipment costs, capped at $5,000. - Who qualifies: For-profit businesses at a permanent commercial or industrial location inside Salem city limits, operating locally at least one year, with at least two full-time-equivalent employees. - The catch: It's a reimbursement with a minimum 1:1 match. Getting $5,000 back means spending at least $10,000 on approved equipment. Sales tax and shipping don't count. - Deadline: Applications open Thursday, November 5 and close Tuesday, December 15, 2026. Grants are awarded February 1, 2027. - Official link: https://www.salemva.gov/867/Salem-Small-Business-Equipment-Investmen ## 5. Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge (Utah high schoolers) - Amount: A pool of $30,000 in cash and scholarships. - Who qualifies: Utah high school students ages 14 to 18. High school graduates and full-time college students can't enter. - The catch: The top 20 make a video and face public online voting in February before the final event on February 20, 2027. - Deadline: Saturday, January 9, 2027. - Official link: https://lassonde.utah.edu/hsuec/ **Before you apply** A real grant never charges a fee to release money. None of these five pages lists an application fee. If someone asks for a gift card or your bank login to unlock a grant, hang up. Know someone in Newark who throws a great block party? Send them #1 today. Verified on each official page: October 23, 2026 (2026-10-23). ## Questions readers ask **When can I enter the HelpBnk World's Biggest Business Competition?** Entries open November 20, 2026 at 00:00 UK time and close November 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UK time. You submit a pitch video of no more than 60 seconds, and entry is free. **Who can enter the HelpBnk competition?** Entrants must be at least 18, own or control the business, be a legal resident of a participating country, and be physically located there when applying. The United States, Canada and the UK are on the current list. **What does the Experience Newark Winter & Holidays microgrant pay for?** Microgrants of $1,000 to $5,000 for winter, seasonal or holiday events in Newark held November 28 to December 31, 2026. Events must be open to the public and free or low-cost. Applications are due November 6. **What do Shophand Boost Grant winners get?** Each winner receives $2,500 in cash plus $2,500 in Shophand tech and operations services. The current round closes November 30, 2026, and the winner is announced December 15. **How does the Salem, Virginia equipment grant match work?** The grant reimburses up to 50% of eligible equipment costs, capped at $5,000, with a minimum 1:1 business match. Applications open November 5 and close December 15, 2026. **Who can enter the Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge?** Utah high school students ages 14 to 18. High school graduates and full-time college students are not eligible. The application deadline is January 9, 2027.