Miller Lite Tap The Future Competition And Daymond John Kick Off The Search For The Next Great Business Idea

For the fourth year, the Miller Lite Tap the Future business plan competition will offer entrepreneurs from across the country an opportunity to take their businesses to the next level.

Tap the Future is kicking off the Live Pitch Tour, making stops in Houston, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. Chosen from a pool of more than 13,000 applicants, five semifinalists will pitch at each stop in front of a panel of judges for $20,000 and an opportunity to advance to the finals. The winning business from each event will present before a national panel of judges at MillerCoors' Chicago headquarters in September, where the winning team with the best business plan and strongest pitch will receive the grand prize of $200,000.

"Miller Lite celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners through Tap the Future. It's the same drive and passion that startups have today that fueled the origins of our brewery more than 150 years ago," said Steve Canal, MillerCoors, national community affairs. "This is our fourth year hosting this competition and we're just as excited to see the phenomenal work of these entrepreneurs as they are to pitch to the judges."

Each contestant will be evaluated by a top-notch panel of business executives led by serial entrepreneur, author and TV personality Daymond John from ABC's "Shark Tank." The businesses will be evaluated according to specific criteria and contestants will receive valuable feedback from John.

"I'm looking forward to hearing the pitches from this years' semifinalists," said John. "It's a great opportunity for the contestants to practice the art of pitching to an investor and putting together a solid business plan. It truly is a great learning experience with the benefit of potentially securing funding that's free and clear."

In addition to John, the Live Pitch events will be hosted by Kenny Burns, senior vice president of marketing for Comb Enterprises, author of "The Dream is Real" and founder of the lifestyle online magazine studio43.com. This year's judging panel will also include Sulaiman "Su" Sanni and Ben Lamson, co-owners of WeDidIt, a tech company that helps nonprofits crowdfund and reach new donors through web, mobile and analytics. Sanni and Lamson are past recipients of a MillerCoors business grant. Each city will also feature guest judges comprised of past winners and seasoned business owners.

LIVE PITCH TOUR SCHEDULE

• Houston July 19
• Philadelphia July 21
• Miami July 26
• Atlanta July 28
• Chicago August 2
• Los Angeles August 10

Live Pitch guests will be able to connect with other like-minded business owners. Three randomly selected entrepreneurs will get the chance to deliver a one-minute business pitch and receive valuable feedback from John and the panel of experts. The best impromptu pitch will win a $500 prize. All of the Live Pitch events are open to guests 21 and older. For more tour details, official rules or to RSVP, visit www.MLTaptheFuture.com/events. Consumers also can follow Miller Lite on Facebook and Twitter @MillerLite.

About Miller Brewing Company
Miller Brewing Company was founded in 1855 by Frederick J. Miller when he purchased the Plank Road Brewery in Milwaukee, a city he chose as the best place for a brewery given its access to great water. Miller Lite, the original great-tasting light pilsner beer, (MillerLite.com, Facebook.com/MillerLite, @MillerLite on Twitter, YouTube.com/MillerLite) was introduced nationally in 1975 and is among the top-five selling beers in the United States. The brewery's oldest enduring beer is Miller High Life (MillerHighLife.com, Facebook.com/MillerHighLife, @MillerHighLife on Twitter). Known as the Champagne of Beers, it was introduced in 1903 and still is brewed with the same yeast strain that Miller carried in his pocket from Germany. Miller Genuine Draft (MGD.com, Facebook.com/MillerGenuineDraft, @Miller_Global on Twitter), introduced in 1986, is the original cold-filtered, packaged draft beer. Miller Brewing Company operates in the United States and Puerto Rico as part of MillerCoors, a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at Facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.

SOURCE Miller Brewing Company

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