Customer First

Meet the finalists of The UPS Store 2026 Small Biz Challenge

04-09-2026
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Small Biz Challenge Trophy Graphic with UPS Store Small Biz Challenge Trophy Graphic with UPS Store Small Biz Challenge Trophy Graphic with UPS Store

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 recognizes 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 optimize their digital presence, supercharge their brand identity and reimagine their business goals.

Following a public voting phase, we’re celebrating the three finalists who will deliver their business pitch in front of alive audience in Nashville with five judges, including last year’s winner Just Call Me Shirley.

🏆 Let’s give a round of applause to our finalists:

Woman in Tennis Attire Holding Wooden Racket
High Strung Racquets is disrupting the tennis gear market by merging performance with personal style. The company specializes 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.”

Woman with folded laundry wearing branded shirt
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 pick up your laundry and deliver 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.

Man in maroon shirt with short curly hair
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 wasn’t a new strategy. It was clarity.”

And the winner is …We’ll crown the winner of the 2026 Small Biz Challenge at the end of April. Finalists will compete in a live competition as they get real-time feedback from the judging panel of business experts.

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

“We’re 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 didn’t know The UPS Store could do for your small business.

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

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