Meet the winner and finalists of The UPS Store 2026 Small Biz Challenge​

The UPS Store is lifting up the next generation of entrepreneurs. For the ninth year in a row, we invited small business owners across the U.S. to compete in the 2026 The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge for a share of the $35,000 prize pool and a feature in Inc. Magazine.

“At The UPS Store, supporting entrepreneurs is at the heart of what we do”, said Michelle Van Slyke, senior vice president of marketing and sales at The UPS Store. “Our Small Biz Challenge recognises the driven small business owners across the country who power their communities every day”,.

How it works: After nearly 6,000 small businesses sent in their applications, we matched nine amazing semifinalists with mentors to supercharge their businesses. Each semifinalist participated in three challenges, learning how to optimise their digital presence, supercharge their brand identity and reimagine their business goals.

🏆 Congratulations to the winner of the 2026 The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge:

The Laundry Basket is built on the belief that people deserve their time back. The company has turned an everyday chore – laundry – into a scalable, tech-powered subscription service that will collect your washing and deliver it back to your doorstep, clean and folded.

Why the Small Biz Challenge matters: “Refining my message into a 20‑second pitch and a 20‑second emotional hook forced me to get clear very quickly on what truly matters”, founder Hyacinth Tucker said.

👏 And a round of applause to our finalists:

Portion is a platform turning restaurant surplus into revenue. Founder Andrew Tyree Clinkscale grew up in foster care, food insecure, while restaurants down the street threw away perfectly good meals. Portion connects people with Atlanta restaurants. When a kitchen posts a surplus, customers can buy it at a discount.

Why the Small Biz Challenge matters: “The best thing a mentor can do is tell you the truth”, Andrew said. “What I took away was not a new strategy. It was clarity.”

High Strung Racquets is disrupting the tennis gear market by merging performance with personal style. The company specialises in premium racquet accessories that allow players to extend their style identity to their gear.

Why the Small Biz Challenge matters: “A consistent message from every mentor was to trust my instincts”, founder Laura Nolen shared. “Trusting myself and my gut has been the constant thread throughout this journey.”

Since its inception, The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge has been empowering and celebrating small business owners.

“We are continually inspired by the contestants and proud to provide them a stage where they gain visibility, guidance and confidence to keep growing”, Michelle said.

Plus, catch up on the five things you did not know The UPS Store could do for your small business.

Did you know? Here are some more ways we support small business growth:

• How UPS powers small business growth
• Fresh products need a reliable shipper
• Retailer doubles sales to the U.S. with easy exports and reliable shipping