Following an event-packed weekend, four Fayetteville-based entrepreneurs were given a leg up as part of the 2026 910 Future Festival.
Presented by Fayetteville NEXT, 910 Future Fest was a three-day celebration bringing together workforce development, entrepreneurship, youth engagement, arts, culture, live entertainment and community pride between Sept. 24–26.
The inaugural Pitch Competition took place on Friday, Sept. 25, and brought together local businesses and local judges at Shaw Auditorium at Fayetteville State University. The competition was aimed at founders who are residents of Cumberland, Hoke, or Harnett County, N.C., who are operating an active, legally registered business (nonprofit or for-profit) with annual revenue of at least $36,000.
The competition gave contestants an opportunity to pitch their businesses before a panel of judges within three to five minutes. Judges ranged from local business owners to economic development experts who were able to provide feedback during presentations.
A total of eight businesses signed up to give their pitch for a chance at a grand prize of $5,000.
CONTESTANTS INCLUDED:
The event originally advertised a grand prize of $2,500, but thanks to additional funding from sponsor Camelback Ventures and grant funding from NC IDEA, that grand prize was doubled. The event also allowed for four businesses to take home prize money instead of three.
“Winning a prize is only one part of the opportunity. The 910 Future Festival Pitch Competition is designed to help entrepreneurs leave better positioned to continue building their businesses,” shared Fayetteville NEXT in a written statement. “The competition is marketed as an opportunity to launch a business, not just win funds. The experience emphasizes education, mentorship and long-term support for founders.”
Many contestants included their plans for the prize money, with some looking to expand their facilities, develop certifications and training programs, fund advertising campaigns and more.
After questions, advice and much deliberation from the judges, the following four business owners were awarded funding to help them continue to grow:
1ST PLACE: Kyle Miller, founder and president of Omega Air.
2ND PLACE: Brittany Wharton, LCSW, LCAS, CSI, founder and director of Rebirth-Heart and Mind PLLC
3RD PLACE: Jane Smith, founder and CEO of Sprinkle Me Pink, LLC
4TH PLACE: Ernest Murray, co-founder of Fedora Elite Mobile Cigar Experience
“Winning the 910 Future Fest pitch competition is an incredible honor. I am grateful to the organizers, the judges and everyone who puts in the work to lift up small businesses in this community — events like this genuinely change the trajectory of companies like mine,” shared Miller. “Omega Air started as a traditional HVAC and duct-cleaning company, and we are growing into something bigger: a test-first home performance company that diagnoses and fixes how homes actually use energy.”
“This $5,000 goes straight into growth: diagnostic equipment like thermal cameras and moisture meters for every inspector, professional marketing materials for our builder and realtor partners and training and certification for our team as our HERS and HERO workload grow,” continued Miller. “Faster, more accurate diagnostics and more builder inspection contracts — that is what this prize buys. From average to Omega — we are just getting started.”
With the success of the first pitch event, Fayetteville NE XT shared that they are looking forward to continuing to connect with local entrepreneurs and highlight the community as a place for young people to live, work and grow.
“910 Future Fest gave you a chance to see us in action. Now we want you to understand the purpose behind the work. Fayetteville NEXT is about helping young adults connect, grow and have a voice in shaping this city. Creating opportunities. Building relationships. Making Fayetteville a place where we can see— and build—our future,” organizers shared following the event.
Winners of the inaugural pitch competition were Omega Air, Rebirth-Heart and Mind PLLC, Sprinkle Me Pink, LLC and Fedora Elite Mobile Cigar Experience. Following an event-packed weekend, four Fayetteville-based entrepreneurs were given a leg up
