Official Terms and Conditions
By submitting an application for the CMA Pitch Competition, each participant agrees to the following Terms and Conditions.
1. Eligibility
Participants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be the owner and/or director of a currently operational, licensed childcare center or licensed family childcare home.
- Represent a childcare program located within the United States.
- Provide accurate and verifiable licensing, ownership, employment, and business information upon request.
- Maintain the childcare program’s license in active and good standing throughout the competition.
Participants may be members of Childcare Millionaires Association programs; however, they must be financially in good standing at the time of application and throughout the competition.
Current employees of the Childcare Millionaires Association are not eligible to participate. CMA
2. Application Requirements
- Each participant must submit a completed application by the published deadline.
- Be the owner and/or director of a currently operational, licensed childcare center or licensed family childcare home.
- Incomplete, late, misleading, or fraudulent applications may be disqualified.
- Participants may submit only one competition entry.
- The proposed idea must be lawful, appropriate for the childcare industry, and consistent with professional childcare standards.
3. Pitch Requirements
Participants will have two (2) - four (4) minutes to present their “big idea.”
Participants are encouraged to explain:
- What the idea is.
- Why the idea is needed.
- How the idea will be implemented.
- Who will benefit from the idea.
- When and where the idea will take place, if applicable.
- How the prize will help bring the idea to life.
Participants must stay within the assigned time limit. Exceeding the time limit may affect the participant’s score and could result in the presentation being stopped.
Presentations must be professional and suitable for a general audience. Profanity, vulgarity, discriminatory language, threats, inappropriate imagery, or offensive conduct of any kind are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate disqualification.
4. Originality and Ownership
Participants must have the legal right to present all ideas, materials, images, music, videos, business concepts, and other content included in their submission or pitch.
The participant retains ownership of their original idea. However, participants understand that the competition may be presented publicly and that CMA, its judges, sponsors, attendees, or other individuals may already be developing similar ideas.
CMA does not agree to keep any submission or pitch confidential. Participants should not disclose trade secrets, confidential business information, protected child or family information, or any information they do not want shared publicly.
5. Semi-final Round
Semifinalists must be available to pitch virtually on the date and at the time designated by CMA.
Inability to participate on the designated date may result in disqualification. If a semifinalist is disqualified or withdraws, CMA may invite the eligible participant with the next-highest score to advance.
Participants are responsible for having a reliable internet connection, functioning camera and microphone, and an appropriate location from which to present. CMA may make reasonable accommodations for documented technical problems but is not required to reschedule a missed presentation.
6. Finalist Requirements
Finalists must be available to attend the CMA Live Conference in Houston, Texas, November 13–15, 2026, and participate in all required competition activities.
Each finalist will receive:
- Two complimentary VIP passes to CMA Live 2026.
- One virtual pitch-coaching class.
- One in-person rehearsal in Houston before the competition.
The VIP passes are nontransferable, have no cash value, and may not be resold.
Travel, lodging, meals outside of those specifically included with conference registration, ground transportation, parking, and other personal expenses are not included and are the responsibility of the finalist.
If a finalist cannot fulfill the competition requirements, misses a required coaching session or rehearsal without prior approval, withdraws, or becomes ineligible, CMA may replace that finalist with the eligible participant holding the next-highest score.
7. Judging and Scoring
Finalists will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Delivery: Confidence, engagement, professionalism, and effectiveness of the presentation.
- Creativity: Originality, innovation, and the idea’s ability to stand out.
- Clarity: How clearly the participant explains the idea, implementation plan, beneficiaries, and intended results
- Need: The significance of the problem or opportunity being addressed and the potential value to the childcare program or community.
- Time: Finalists will be given 5 minutes. Exceeding this time will result in point deductions.
Scores will be collected and tallied by an independent third party or designated scorekeeper who is not competing in the competition. The judges’ decisions and verified final scores are final. In the event of a tie, the participant receiving the higher score in the Need category will advance or win. If the tie remains, the higher Clarity score will be used. If necessary, the judges may conduct a final vote.
8. Prizes
Cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded in the name of the winning childcare center, licensed childcare home, or its legal business entity. Personal checks will not be issued.
Before receiving a prize, a winner may be required to provide:
- Proof of identity and eligibility.
- Proof of current childcare licensing.
- The childcare program’s legal name and mailing address.
- A completed IRS Form W-9
- Appropriate business banking or payment information.
- A signed prize-acceptance agreement and media release.
Prizes are nontransferable. In-kind prizes may not be exchanged for cash. CMA reserves the right to substitute an in-kind prize with one of equal or greater value if the original prize becomes unavailable.
Winners are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with their prizes. The IRS generally treats prizes and awards as taxable income, although the specific treatment may depend on the recipient and circumstances. Winners should consult their own tax professional. IRS guidance
Failure to provide the required documents or accept the prize within the stated timeframe may result in forfeiture. CMA may then offer the prize to the eligible participant with the next-highest final score.
9. Use of Prize
Prize recipients agree to make a good-faith effort to use the prize to implement or support the idea presented during the competition.
CMA may request reasonable progress updates, photographs, testimonials, receipts, or other documentation demonstrating how the prize supported the childcare program or proposed project. Unless expressly stated in writing, CMA does not guarantee the success, profitability, licensing approval, or implementation of any winning idea.
10. Photo, Video, and Media Release
By participating, each participant grants CMA and its authorized partners, sponsors, and representatives permission to photograph, record, livestream, reproduce, edit, publish, and promote the participant’s name, likeness, voice, childcare program name, pitch, and competition participation.
These materials may be used in print, digital, social media, advertising, educational, promotional, and archival content without additional payment or approval, to the extent permitted by law.
Participants must not include children, families, or staff members in their presentation materials unless they have obtained all legally required permissions and releases.
11. Professional Conduct
Participants must treat CMA staff, judges, sponsors, volunteers, conference attendees, and other competitors respectfully.
Harassment, intimidation, cheating, disruption, retaliation, attempts to influence judges improperly, or unsportsmanlike conduct may result in immediate disqualification and removal from the competition or conference.
Participants must comply with all CMA Live rules, venue policies, safety requirements, and applicable laws.
12. Disqualification
CMA reserves the right to disqualify a participant for reasons including, but not limited to:
- Failure to meet eligibility requirements.
- False or misleading information.
- Loss, suspension, or revocation of the childcare license.
- Failure to remain financially in good standing with CMA, when applicable.
- Missing a required pitch, coaching session, rehearsal, or conference activity.
- Plagiarism or unauthorized use of another person’s intellectual property.
- Profanity, vulgarity, discriminatory language, or inappropriate conduct.
- Tampering with the application, judging, voting, or scoring process.
- Attempting to contact or influence judges regarding scores.
- Violating these Terms and Conditions.
When a participant is disqualified or withdraws, CMA may select the eligible participant with the next-highest verified score.
13. Competition Changes or Cancellation
CMA reserves the right to adjust competition dates, times, locations, presentation formats, judges, coaching sessions, or other competition details when reasonably necessary.
If circumstances beyond CMA’s reasonable control affect the competition—including severe weather, travel disruption, venue closures, public-health emergencies, technology failures, government restrictions, or other emergencies—CMA may modify, postpone, conduct virtually, or cancel part or all of the competition.
CMA will make reasonable efforts to communicate material changes to affected participants.
14. Limitation of Responsibility
To the extent permitted by law, CMA is not responsible for:
- Lost, late, incomplete, corrupted, or misdirected applications.
- Internet, platform, equipment, or technical failures.
- Travel interruptions, cancellations, or personal expenses.
- Losses arising from a participant’s implementation of an idea.
- Unauthorized use or disclosure of an idea presented publicly.
- The actions, products, or services of third-party prize providers or sponsors.
15. Acceptance of Terms
Submission of an application constitutes the participant’s acknowledgment that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
CMA’s interpretation and administration of these rules, including eligibility determinations and verified competition results, will be final, subject to applicable law.
