Trump Staging Apprentice-style Competition at SBA With Nicki Minaj as Judge
The Trump administration is bringing an Apprentice-style pitch competition to the US Small Business Administration, complete with a $1 million prize pool, as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event, which recalls President Donald Trump's stint as host of the reality show The Apprentice while also echoing Shark Tank's format, will see five entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges in Washington, D.C. on 18 September.
Rapper Nicki Minaj will sit on the judging panel alongside entrepreneur and private equity manager Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, with actor Dean Cain hosting. The five finalists, chosen from a nationwide call for submissions, are Compotech, Winton Machine, Plas-Tech Tooling, Red River and VetPowered, with prizes ranging from $400,000 for first place down to $75,000 for fifth. Minaj has previously expressed strong support for the Trump administration, having called herself his "number one fan" after receiving an expedited citizenship "gold card" earlier this year.
- SBA to host Apprentice-style pitch contest with $1m prize pool
- Nicki Minaj joins judging panel alongside Grant Cardone and Joe Gebbia
- Five finalist firms compete in Washington, D.C. on 18 September
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a US government agency that supports small businesses, including through advice and access to loans. The competition is part of events marking 250 years since the United States declared independence in 1776.
Five businesses selected from entries across the country are due to pitch their ideas to judges, with cash prizes for each finalist. The format draws on television business competitions such as The Apprentice and Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs present ideas to a panel.
The judges include rapper Nicki Minaj, investor Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia; actor Dean Cain is due to host. The event brings together entertainment and business figures with a government agency, and its prizes could provide funding to the selected businesses.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could see the competition as a high-profile way to celebrate American enterprise and give small businesses meaningful funding and national exposure. A public pitch event may also introduce entrepreneurs to investors and audiences who might otherwise never encounter their work.
The case against
Critics could argue that using a federal agency and a large prize pool for a celebrity-led spectacle risks prioritising publicity over sustained support for small businesses. Minaj’s public political alignment may also make the judging panel appear partisan, potentially weakening confidence that the event is an impartial celebration of entrepreneurship.