The Butler County Chamber of Commerce is taking inspiration from a national TV show to spur innovation and promote new business activity in the county.

The Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday it is launching the Butler County Emerging Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition, an initiative that aims to identify, train and empower “the next generation of innovators, small business owners and community leaders.”

The chamber said the competition is being spearheaded by its entrepreneurial infrastructure and ecosystem development committee, operating under the chamber umbrella, to elevate business development countywide.

“The Shark Tank competition serves as a milestone in the committee’s long-term goal of establishing a world-class business incubator in Butler County, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting economic growth for years to come,” a chamber news release said.

The Shark Tank competition is set to debut in 2026. There will be an official launch event Jan. 28 at the Fun Fore All Family Park in Cranberry Township to introduce partners and raise community awareness ahead of the pitch competition.

The pitch event will be held 5 to 9 p.m., April 28, at the RLA Learning and Conference Center in Cranberry.

The event is one of multiple initiatives the committee has promoted since its formation in January 2024. The chamber created its “Bloom Butler County” one-stop business support system, launched in August 2025, and hopes to build off it.

“We identified early on in committee, that in densely populated areas, there’s entrepreneurial spirit on just about every block. You can’t go one city block in Pittsburgh without seeing that,” Jordan Grady, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said. “We’ve looked for solutions such as the one-stop shop.”

Grady said the chamber and committee have been collaborating closely with the Youngstown Business Incubator, which has experience conducting pitch competitions.

The application portal for the competition is now open and will close Feb. 28. Applications submitted will be vetted and recommended finalists will receive a “micro grant” for their proposals. They will then pitch their businesses to a panel of “sharks” for additional funding.

The sharks will be announced at the opening event.

“We’re really hoping to bring more community investment into the county. We really want to also help businesses thrive,” said Kylie Baker, chair of the competition. “When a lot of businesses start, cash flow is a big issue. In their first year, 80% fail. This is a shark tank, but we’re also bringing a mentorship program to help them thrive after that.”

The chamber hopes to do the event every year to promote new business ideas, networking and innovation in the area.

Baker said the committee is also excited to see the involvement of schools, such as Slippery Rock University, Butler County Community College and South College Pittsburgh.

“With the opportunity for college students to apply, it’s really great — to actually earn funds from Shark Tank. It’s great for them to get out, meet mentors, other business owners, really be invested in the community,” Baker said.