1: Who is Eligible to Participate? The Earn Your Masters Grant Program is open to artists, creatives and entrepreneurs of all genres who are 21 years of age or older and reside in the United States of America.

2: Are There Any Restrictions on the Type of Projects or Ventures Eligible for the Competition? The competition is open to various creative endeavors, including but not limited to music projects, artistic endeavors, business ventures, fashion designs, film or video productions, and product innovations.

3: Can I apply if I am not based in North Carolina? Yes, applicants from anywhere in the United States are welcome to apply . However, please note that pitch candidates will be required to attend the live pitch event in North Carolina to be considered for the grand finale.

4: Will I be disqualified if I can’t attend the live pitch event in North Carolina? No, we will be activating in other markets to give different cities opportunities to pitch live to our judges and be considered for the final event in December. In addition, social media can also help your chances no matter where you’re from to show the impact and support for your creative endeavor.

Those applying must submit all materials to be considered for this opportunity. The competition is available for anyone who meets the eligibility criteria and submits a completed application with all required materials. Keep in mind to move forward in the competition you must be available for a live pitch in Charlotte, North Carolina at our Earn Your Masters event on Saturday, April 27, 2024. If you’re unable to attend, there will be opportunities to pitch live later in the year, leading up to our finale event in December 2024. We encourage you to engage on social media to better your chances if you are unable to attend any event in person. The follow items are required for your application to be considered:

1: CREATIVE ENDEAVOR - Applicants must have a creative endeavor to pitch for funding, whether it's a musical project, business venture, or artistic endeavor. It should demonstrate innovation, creativity, and potential for success. We are looking for ideas that will have an impact in the creative industry, with an intentional focus on but not limited to the music industry.

2: ELEVATOR PITCH VIDEO - Applicants must create a 30-60 second elevator pitch video introducing yourself and your project. This video should succinctly communicate your vision, goals, and why you deserve support. We encourage you to share these on social media to illustrate the audience you have built around your endeavor.

3: PITCH DECK - Applicants must package a presentation that is a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 slides outlining your business plan, objectives, and how you intend to use the grant money. Please note you may be required to submit additional materials such as but not limited to a budget breakdown.

4: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS - Applicants must complete the attached short answer questions to further explain your background and experience as it relates to your creative endeavor. This is an opportunity to provide more context and insight into what you will use the grant money for and the impact you plan to achieve should you win the grand prize.

Submissions for this round will be accepted March 27 - April 15. Submissions will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m. EST on April 15, 2024. Due to the volume of submissions, applicants will be notified only if they move forward in the process. All applicants will be notified for a successful submission of their application and should check UnitedMasters social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn) for updates on the selection process.

GENERAL

1: Who is the Sponsor / Brand Partner? The sponsor and brand partner for the 2024 Earn Your Masters Pitch Competition are Ally, UnitedMasters, and Earn Your Leisure.

2: What is the Official Title of the Contest? The official title of the contest is the 2024 Earn Your Masters Pitch Competition.

3: Is this Open to the Public, or Open to Existing Users Only, and is there a paywall to entry (e.g. Select subscription)?The competition is open to the public, specifically targeting aspiring creatives, artists, and entrepreneurs. There is no paywall to entry; participation is free.

4: How many rounds will there be for me to get to the final event in December? The first round is your online application, from there we will be able to select pitch candidates to be considered for a live pitch opportunity. If you’re unable to participate in the live pitch.

5: How many rounds will there be for me to get to the final event in December? The first round is your online application, from there we will be able to select pitch candidates to be considered for a live pitch opportunity. If you’re unable to participate in the live pitch.

ELIGIBILITY

1: Who is Eligible to Participate? The Earn Your Masters Grant Program is open to artists, creatives and entrepreneurs of all genres who are 21 years of age or older and reside in the United States of America.

2: Are There Any Restrictions on the Type of Projects or Ventures Eligible for the Competition? The competition is open to various creative endeavors, including but not limited to music projects, artistic endeavors, business ventures, fashion designs, film or video productions, and product innovations.

3: Can I apply if I am not based in North Carolina? Yes, applicants from anywhere in the United States are welcome to apply . However, please note that pitch candidates will be required to attend the live pitch event in North Carolina to be considered for the grand finale.

4: Will I be disqualified if I can’t attend the live pitch event in North Carolina? No, we will be activating in other markets to give different cities opportunities to pitch live to our judges and be considered for the final event in December. In addition, social media can also help your chances no matter where you’re from to show the impact and support for your creative endeavor.

APPLICATION

1: How Do Contestants Enter? Contestants can enter by completing the online application form available on the Earn Your Masters website. The form requires personal details, project information, an elevator pitch video, a pitch deck, and responses to short answer questions.

2: What is the Deadline for Applications? The deadline for applications to pitch live at our event in Charlotte, North Carolina is 11:59 p.m. EST on April 15, 2024

3: What happens if I am selected as a pitch candidate? If you are selected as a finalist, you will be invited to participate in the live pitch event at the Earn Your Masters event in North Carolina. You will have the opportunity to pitch your creative endeavor idea live in front of judges and audience members.

4: What happens if I do not win the grand prize? Even if you do not win the grand prize, there is still a chance to receive seed funding money as a runner-up from the live pitch event. Additionally, all finalists will have a chance to receive recognition for their achievements and contributions to the competition via features on the UnitedMasters social channels.

ELEVATOR PITCH VIDEO

1: What Should the Elevator Pitch Video Include? The elevator pitch video should be 30-60 seconds long and introduce the applicant and their project. It should succinctly communicate the vision, goals, and why the applicant deserves support.

2: Where Should the Elevator Pitch Video be Shared? Applicants should upload their elevator pitch video to YouTube as an unlisted link and share in their submission.

3: Can I share my pitch video on social media? Yes, artists are encouraged to share their pitch videos on social media platforms to increase their visibility and engagement. Videos may be reshared by the campaign for additional exposure.

PITCH DECK

1: What Should the Pitch Deck Include? The pitch deck should consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 slides outlining the business plan, objectives, and how the applicant intends to use the grant money.

2: Are There Any Specific Requirements for the Pitch Deck? Applicants may be required to submit additional materials such as a budget breakdown or project timeline, depending on the complexity of the project.

3: How do I submit the pitch deck? Your pitch deck should be exported as a PDF file and uploaded to Google Drive. Be sure to update the share access to ‘Anyone with the link’ can view.