WHEELING, W.Va. – July 17, 2025 – Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to apply for Wheeling Heritage’s upcoming Show of Hands event, set for Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main St.
Applications are open through Wednesday, Aug. 13, and can be submitted online at wheelingheritage.org/show-of-hands.
Show of Hands, sponsored by Orrick, is a crowd-powered pitch competition where four finalists present their ideas to a live audience. Each attendee donates $5 at the door for a vote to help decide which finalist receives the top prize. The winning project generally takes home around $4,500 in funding, supported by both audience contributions and community sponsors.
Since its inception, the event has awarded more than $154,000 in funding to support local businesses and initiatives that contribute to Wheeling’s economic and community development.
“This is more than just a funding opportunity,” said Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage. “Show of Hands helps build connections between entrepreneurs and their community while giving them the platform to grow their ideas.”
In addition to the chance to win funding, Show of Hands offers finalists valuable exposure and support. Each selected presenter will receive:
• Personalized one-on-one mentoring to help refine their pitch
• A professionally produced 90-second video to promote their project
• Opportunities to connect with potential customers, investors, and collaborators
“Show of Hands has a special energy. It’s where people show up not just to support a project, but to believe in the future of their city and each other. We’re especially excited to see what new or growing businesses apply for this round. And if you’ve never made it to a Show of Hands, this is your chance—our final event of the year is coming up, so grab a friend, head downtown, and let’s make this turnout a big one!”Riley Carpenter, director of heritage programming.
“Show of Hands has a special energy,” said Riley Carpenter, director of programming at Wheeling Heritage. “It’s where people show up not just to support a project, but to believe in the future of their city and each other. We’re especially excited to see what new or growing businesses apply for this round. And if you’ve never made it to a Show of Hands, this is your chance—our final event of the year is coming up, so grab a friend, head downtown, and let’s make this turnout a big one.”
Here’s how it works:
- Apply: Submit your proposal by Aug. 20. A selection committee will choose four finalists.
- Prepare: Finalists work with mentors and receive a promotional video.
- Pitch: Each finalist presents a four-minute pitch during the Sept. 24 event, followed by a brief Q&A.
- Vote: Attendees contribute $5 at the door and cast their vote.
- Win: The project with the most votes receives the funding—and the community’s support.
Whether you’re ready to launch a new venture or expand an existing one, Show of Hands could be your stepping stone to success.
For more details or to apply, visit wheelingheritage.org/show-of-hands. Or contact Riley Carpenter at (304) 232-3087 or by email at rcarpenter@wheelingheritage.org.
