South Side Pitch

South Side Pitch is an annual event hosted by the Institute for Justice’s Clinic on Entrepreneurship, showcasing inventive, inspiring, impactful entrepreneurs from the South Side of Chicago.

Small business owners get the chance to stand in the spotlight and pitch to win prizes.

Get ready to be wowed by your community of entrepreneurs this South Side Pitch, 2022!   

• South Side Pitch Home
• About
• Get Involved!
• Past Winners
• Eligibility & Judging Criteria
• Rules

Who Should Apply?

South Side Pitch is a competition for all South Siders who own a business and have a passion to pitch. The application below walks you through the eligibility requirements. Check out last year’s Finalists, and you’ll see our competition isn’t limited to any one industry! It’s all about what you bring to the table.

South Side Pitch Application

This year, South Side Pitch is looking to celebrate South Side entrepreneurs by highlighting the impact their businesses have. South Side Pitch offers small business owners an opportunity to pitch in front of a city-wide audience to share their success story and for the chance to win cash prizes.

The judges will be looking for South Side businesses that can demonstrate a positive contribution to an individual life, community, or industry. For example, perhaps your business has improved your financial situation, led to a change in an industry, brought jobs to your community, or introduced a much-needed good or service to your neighborhood. Judges will also look at ways business owners have demonstrated creativity while growing their businesses. How has creativity contributed to the success of your business? How have you adapted to the many curveballs life throws at entrepreneurs?

We also want South Side entrepreneurs to be able to use their pitch to inspire the audience and encourage the public to invest in them. Thus, it is important that you explain why and how the cash prize would help your business and exhibit showmanship when delivering your pitch.

Questions? Email clinic@ij.org.

South Side Pitch’s General Timeline

August 1, 2022

Apply to South Side Pitch!

Apply to South Side Pitch by August 1, 2022 to be considered for the semifinalist stage.

September 2022

Semifinalist Season

Submit Your Video Pitch! People’s Choice is Guaranteed a Prize.

October 2022

Finalist Coaching

Join IJCE & Pitching experts to practice your pitch!

October 20,2022

South Side Pitch!

Live at the Polsky Center, Finalists Pitch to Win the top prize!

PAST sponsors

prior winners

1st Place (2021)

Sista Afya

A Community Mental Wellness centering around Black women.

2nd Place (2021)

Piggyback Network

An online youth transportation marketplace for parents and guardians on shared routes

3rd Place (2021)

D. Jones Construction

100% minority-owned, women-owned certified general construction company

Read More

Windy City Entrepreneurs Aim for the Sky in South Side Pitch Competition

• January 21, 2021

South Side Pitch Business Competition Moves Online this Fall

• Andrew Wimer
• July 22, 2020

Multicultural, Interactive Reading App takes 1st Place in South Side Pitch Competition

• Institute for Justice
• October 13, 2017

Read More