What is South Side Pitch?

South Side’s Shark-Tank Style Competition

Every year, small businesses across the South Side of Chicago participate in South Side Pitch, sharing stories about their roots, their impact, and their visions for the future. The contest ends with a shark-tank style event where finalists pitch their businesses to a city-wide audience and a panel of judges for the chance to win a portion of cash prizes that total over $34,000! Our goal is to shine a spotlight on these  incredible business owners and inspire others to pursue their dreams and build up their communities through entrepreneurship. 

InHeirit, an estate planning company, took first place winner ($14,000) with the help of a live audience in the 11th Annual South Side Pitch. InHeirit was among the five finalists from the more than 100 businesses that applied.

hosted by

South Side Pitch is hosted by the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law School. Located on the South Side, we advocate for economic liberty so that entrepreneurs from Chicago can chart their own courses in life, build up neighborhoods, and create jobs. We provide free legal assistance, access to resources, and advocacy for underserved entrepreneurs in the Chicago area. 

Impact

ANNUAL FOR
12 YEARS RUNNING
MORE THAN
$253K AWARDED
MORE THAN
1100 BUSINESSES INVOLVED
INSPIRING COUNTLESS CHICAGO 
ENTERPRENEURS

South Side Pitch’s General Timeline

June to August 2025

Applications open from June to August 2025

To be considered for 2025 SSP, you must apply by August 4th at 11:59pm.

Mid August 2025

Application Review & Pitch Perfect

Interested in networking and refining your business pitch while applications are reviewed? Join the IJCE at the University of Chicago Law School in late June or August 2025 for Pitch Perfect!

Late August to Mid September 2025

Semifinalist Season

Semifinalists are selected in late August 2025! Submit your video pitch and the public votes who receives the People’s Choice award! The Peopleʼs Choice is guaranteed a spot to compete in October!

Late September 2025

Finalist Coaching

Finalists are selected in late September 2025! Join IJCE & pitching experts to practice your pitch!

October 2025

South Side Pitch!

Live at the Polsky Center North in October 2025. Finalists pitch to win the top prize!

Prizes

With over $34,000 in prizes, the IJ Clinic is spotlighting South Siders with a passion to pitch. Compete against over 100 applicants for one of the top five spots! Each finalist is guaranteed a cash prize at the end of the night.

First Place

$14,000

Second Place

$9,000

Third Place

$6,000

Fourth Place

$3,000

Fifth Place

$1,000

Community Favorite Award

$1,000

*The Community Favorite Award is a generous cash award that acknowledges the South Side Pitch finalist that receives the most public votes. 

*The Rustandy Center Social Impact Award is a generous cash award of $2,500 that is given to a South Side Pitch finalist chosen by staff from the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

2024 Finalists

Longwood Manor

InHeirit, Inc. 

Through collective personal experience and recognizing the adverse impact of inconsistent wealth transfer within our community, InHeirit was founded in Summer 2023 by Astin, Amanda, and Rendel with the determination to disrupt the systemic gap…

South Side Pitch 2024

1st Place

Woodlawn

7323 Chicago Café 

The journey to opening 7323 Chicago Cafe began with Marquinn’s self-taught love for cooking, but the dream became reality through hard work and family support. Situated in Woodlawn, a less-touched neighborhood and food desert, Marquinn…

South Side Pitch 2024

2nd Place, Community Favorite

Bronzeville

Daniel’s Test Kitchen

Daniel Will always enjoyed cooking, starting when he was a teenager and grew into a bigger passion as he got older. Daniel loves how creative people can be with food, how random ingredients can turn…

South Side Pitch 2024

3rd Place

Hyde Park

Econofi 

Bill and Demetra founded Econofi with a vision to address the financial challenges they witnessed growing up in Englewood and Roseland. The decline of community banks and the rise of predatory financial services left many…

South Side Pitch 2024

4th Place

Hyde Park

Nappily Happy 

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Dominique quickly learned the importance of managing her hair. Throughout her childhood, her hair was one of her best features. It wasn’t until her junior year of…

South Side Pitch 2024

5th Place

Support small businesses on the South Side of Chicago, like Moor’s Brewing, by becoming a sponsor of South Side Pitch!

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