LIFTOFF: LOWCOUNTRY

About

Startup Savannah’s LIFTOFF: LOWCOUNTRY is a live pitch competition in Savannah on November 21, 2026, where ten finalists from Georgia, South Carolina and Florida compete for a $25,000 cash prize pool, including a $10,000 first prize and a WSAV media package.

Benefits

• 🏆First place
  $10,000 plus a $5,000 WSAV media package, conditional on winning first place.
• 🥈Second place
  $7,500, conditional on winning second place.
• 🥉Third place
  $5,000, conditional on winning third place.
• 🗳️Audience Choice
  $2,500, conditional on winning the live audience vote.
• 📺Live broadcast
  Both competition nights are scheduled to air live on WSAV, subject to the event proceeding as announced.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: founders must secure one of the ten finalist seats through a designated qualifier, partner nomination, or wild-card selection.
• Finalist pathways named in the source include the 2026 GRIT Pitch championship; the spring or fall SPARK Savannah cohort winner; the LIFTOFF: SPARK winner; regional qualifiers from Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties in Georgia; nominations from the Don Ryan Center, the Lucas Center, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce or Live Oak Fiber; or a wild-card selection.
• The final field is described as ten business owners or founders from Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, including partner nominees from Okaloosa County, Florida; Bluffton, South Carolina; and Brunswick, Georgia.

Participation Commitments

• Finalists must be available to pitch live at Service Brewing Co., 574 Indian St., Savannah, GA, on November 21, 2026.
• Finalists receive four minutes to pitch and two minutes to answer judges’ questions.
• Doors open at 5:30 PM and the program runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on November 21, 2026.

Target Region

The final field is drawn from Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Specific pathways reference Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties in Georgia; Bluffton, South Carolina; Brunswick, Georgia; and Okaloosa County, Florida. General applicant geographic eligibility beyond these named pathways is not stated.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other