Canva's Small Business Pitch Challenge 2026

Got a business idea or a side hustle you're already running? Canva wants to hear about it — and they're putting £4,000 on the table for the businesses that impress them most.

The Small Business Pitch Challenge '26 is open right now, and it's aimed squarely at people like you. Small businesses, sole traders, side hustlers, freelancers. You don't need a limited company, a fancy office or a Dragon's Den-style pitch. You just need a story worth telling.

What Can You Win?

There are three levels to this — so even if you don't win outright, you're not walking away empty handed.

Everyone who enters gets:

• 3 months of Canva Pro — free

• A ready-to-use pitch template

• Access to exclusive startup and founder sessions

• Practical tools to help tell your business story

  
  

Make the top 100 and you get:

• Recognition as one of Canva's Top 100 Small Businesses

• An invite to an exclusive founder networking event

• The chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs across the UK and Ireland

  
  

Top 5 winners receive:

• A £4,000 business grant

• 1:1 mentorship from industry leaders

• National exposure across Canva's channels

• The chance to host your own event at Canva HQ in London

  
  

Who Are the Judges?

It's a solid panel of people who've actually built things themselves.

• Charlotte Broadbent — Director of International Marketing and Partnerships, Faire

• Bejay Melunga MBE — Serial entrepreneur and global keynote speaker

• Martha Keith — Founder of Martha Brook and Business Secrets Club

• AJ Brinnand — Head of Social EMEA, Intuit Mailchimp

• Jason Gibb — Food entrepreneur and co-founder of Bread and Jam Festival

• Lamees Butt — Founder and CEO of RISER

• Joe Glover — Co-founder of The Marketing Meetup

  
  

Who's Behind It?

Canva has brought together a strong group of partners — all focused on helping founders grow.

Enterprise Nation, Faire, Mailchimp, The Marketing Meetup, Business Secrets Club, Bread and Jam, RISER, Good With AI, Digital Boost, Lucky Founders, and Supa Network.

Who Can Enter?

UK and Ireland residents aged 18 and over. If you're starting or running a small business, side hustle, or creative idea with fewer than 50 employees, you're in. Established business or just getting started — both are welcome.

How Do You Enter?

Create a Canva pitch deck, presentation, or video that tells the judges about your business. Your vision, what you're building, where you want to take it. Submit the Canva link and you're done.

They're looking for:

• Strong ideas

• Good storytelling

• Clear communication

• Effective use of Canva

• Exciting growth potential

Key Dates

• Entries open: 10th June 2026

• Entries close: 12th July 2026 at 11:59pm BST

• Judging: 13th–19th July

• Winners announced: 20th–26th July

  
  

You've got time — but not loads of it.

Is It Worth Entering?

If you've got something worth saying about your business, yes. The entry barrier is low, the upside is real, and even landing in the top 100 gets your business in front of the right people.

Four grand and a mentor for an afternoon's work on a pitch deck? Worth a go.

👉 Enter here: public.canva.site/small-business-pitch