Nicki Minaj Joins Trump Administration’s $1 Million Reality-Style Business Competition

THE WORD

• Nicki Minaj will serve as a celebrity judge for the Trump administration-backed Million Dollar Pitch Competition.
• Five small businesses will compete for a combined $1 million in prize money.
• Grant Cardone and Joe Gebbia will join Minaj on the judging panel.
• Dean Cain will host the live finale.
• The competition takes place September 18 in Washington, D.C., with first place receiving $400,000.

Nicki Minaj is stepping into the business world for a new reality-style competition backed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The rapper has been announced as one of the celebrity judges for the Million Dollar Pitch Competition, a Small Business Administration initiative that will put five small-business owners in front of a panel of judges as they compete for a share of $1 million in prize money.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced the celebrity lineup, describing the event as bringing “boardroom energy” to Washington, D.C. The concept has already drawn comparisons to The Apprentice, the reality competition Trump hosted for years before entering politics.

Minaj will be joined at the judges’ table by entrepreneur and investor Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, who currently serves as the U.S. Chief Design Officer. Actor and former Superman star Dean Cain will host the live finale.

Minaj celebrated the announcement on social media, calling the opportunity a “major” moment and expressing excitement about participating in an administration initiative aimed at supporting small businesses.

The competition initially launched under the name Patriot Pitch Competition as part of the administration’s Freedom 250 celebrations. Thousands of businesses reportedly applied before the field was narrowed to five finalists.

Those finalists are Compotech Inc. of Maine, Plas-Tech Tooling of Iowa, Red River of Wyoming, VetPowered LLC of California and Winton Machine of Suwanee, Georgia.

And everyone who reaches the finale is walking away with money.

First place will receive $400,000, followed by $250,000 for second, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $75,000 for fifth. The $1 million prize pool is being funded by point-of-sale company Clover.

The live finale is scheduled for September 18 in Washington, D.C. Details about where the competition will be televised or streamed have not yet been confirmed.

Minaj’s involvement also comes as the superstar has become increasingly public about her support for Trump and his administration, including making appearances alongside the president at White House-related events.

The Million Dollar Pitch Competition is another example of the Trump administration incorporating entertainment-style programming into government initiatives, while putting the spotlight on American entrepreneurs and small businesses.

SOURCES

PEOPLE — Original Report

Fox News — Million Dollar Pitch Competition Details