# Trump administration small business competition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/trump-administration-small-business-competition
> Updated: 2026-09-03T04:07:28.000Z. Sources: 34. Developments: 2.

The Trump administration, through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), has announced a business competition as part of its ‘Freedom 250’ initiative to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event, referred to as both the ‘Million Dollar Pitch Competition’ and the ‘Patriot Pitch Competition,’ is scheduled for September 18 in Washington, D.C.

Rapper Nicki Minaj has been named as a celebrity judge alongside Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia and private equity manager Grant Cardone. Actor Dean Cain is set to host the televised finale. Five finalist companies—Compotech Inc., Winton Machine, Plas-Tech Tooling, Red River, and VetPowered LLC—will compete for a $1 million prize pool, with the top prize valued at $400,000. The SBA noted that the competition funds are provided by Clover Network rather than taxpayer money.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-03: Nicki Minaj to judge Trump administration small business competition

Nicki Minaj will serve as a judge for the Trump administration’s ‘Patriot Pitch Competition,’ a small business contest with a $1 million prize pool held in Washington, D.C.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nicki-minaj-to-judge-trump-administration-small-business-competition

### 2026-08-31: Nicki Minaj to judge Trump administration’s Million Dollar Pitch Competition

Nicki Minaj will judge the Trump administration’s Million Dollar Pitch Competition on September 18 in Washington, D.C., competing for a $1 million prize pool for five small business finalists.

30 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nicki-minaj-to-judge-sbas-million-dollar-pitch-competition

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Cite as: Trump administration small business competition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/trump-administration-small-business-competition