That’s the thinking behind The Small Business Pitch Challenge ’26, a new initiative from Canva designed to help entrepreneurs across the UK and Ireland put their businesses in the spotlight.
The challenge invites business owners to showcase their venture through a simple Canva pitch deck, presentation or video, with five winning businesses each receiving a £4,000 business grant and national exposure across Canva’s channels.
Open to businesses at every stage of their journey, the initiative celebrates entrepreneurial talent while providing practical support to help businesses take their next step.
Lorna Bladen, Small Business Community Manager at Canva, said:
“At Canva, community has always been at the heart of everything we do. We know how challenging it can be to turn a great idea into a growing business, especially when you’re just getting started.
“That’s why we’re creating more opportunities for founders to share their stories, access funding and connect with a community that’s cheering them on every step of the way.”
Supporting businesses beyond funding
While grant funding is a major incentive, the competition has been designed to offer value far beyond the five winning businesses.
For many entrepreneurs, one of the biggest challenges isn’t creating a great product or service – it’s finding opportunities to get noticed. The Small Business Pitch Challenge gives businesses a platform to showcase what they’re building while helping them develop the skills to communicate their vision more effectively.
Rather than lengthy business plans or complex application forms, entrants simply create a Canva presentation, pitch deck or short video explaining who they are, what their business does and why it matters.
The judging panel, made up of Canva representatives and industry leaders, will select the most promising businesses based on innovation, ambition and growth potential.
Recognising more than five businesses
Alongside the five overall winners, Canva will recognise its Top 100 Small Businesses, shining a spotlight on some of the most exciting entrepreneurs across the UK and Ireland.
Those selected will receive invitations to exclusive founder networking events, creating opportunities to build relationships with fellow entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
The five overall winners will also have the opportunity to host an event at Canva’s London headquarters, providing an additional platform to share their business and connect with the wider entrepreneurial community.
Every entrant benefits
A key feature of the challenge is that every entrant receives practical resources to support their business.
All entrants will receive three months of Canva Pro at no cost, along with a professionally designed pitch template to help them present their business with confidence. Participants will also gain access to exclusive startup sessions and founder events, offering practical insights into storytelling, branding and business growth.
It’s an approach that reflects the realities of entrepreneurship. Every business can benefit from communicating its vision more effectively, whether pitching to investors, attracting customers or building brand awareness.
How to enter
Entering is designed to be quick and straightforward.
To enter, applicants simply create a pitch deck, presentation or short video in Canva explaining their business, their vision and what they’re building before submitting their entry.
From there, Canva’s judging panel will review submissions from across the UK and Ireland, selecting the Top 100 businesses before choosing the five overall winners.
The competition is open to entrepreneurs ready to showcase their business, gain valuable exposure and access support that could help accelerate the next stage of their journey.
An opportunity to be seen
Behind every successful business is someone willing to put themselves and their idea forward.
The Small Business Pitch Challenge ’26 is about giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to be recognised, celebrated and supported, regardless of where they are on their business journey.
For businesses looking to build momentum, connect with a wider community and gain national visibility, it could provide the momentum needed to take the next step.
Entries close on 12 July.
To find out more and enter, click here.
