Save Your Seat for 13th Annual South Side Pitch!
*The 13th Annual South Side Pitch has already happened, stay tuned for South Side Pitch 2027!
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 competition is not live streamed so make sure to save your seat before spots run out!
Prizes
With over $40,000 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.
*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.
*The Audience Favorite award is a cash award chosen by the audience that acknowledges the South Side Pitch finalist that receives the highest score for their pitch.
*The South Side Sensation award is a cash award chosen by the audience that acknowledges the South Side Pitch finalist that demonstrates exemplary social impact and showmanship for their business as a South Side resident.
2026 Finalists
Bronzeville
Nitro Nostalgia Ice Cream & Board Game Café
Garland Lucas, founder of Nitro Nostalgia Ice Cream & Board Game Café, was born and raised in Roseland and has deep roots on Chicago’s South Side. After a 25-year career in the railroad industry,…
South Side Pitch 2026
1st Place
McKinley Park
Mamma Jamma Dance and Maternal Wellness
At 16, Kemeera witnessed the beautiful birth of her little sister, never imagining how her mother had planted a seed that would shape her life. When she later learned that disempowering birth experiences were…
South Side Pitch 2026
2nd Place, Audience Favorite, Rustandy Social Impact, South Side Sensation
McKinley Park
Vash Beauty Labs
Vash Beauty Labs was born from Karlene Davis’ own experience trying to launch a haircare brand. With a background in biology and biomedical science, she developed her products but encountered a barrier many emerging…
South Side Pitch 2026
3rd Place
Chatham
South Side Sweats
Cayra Williams, a South Side native, saw firsthand the lack of community fitness opportunities in her area.After graduating from Emory University and returning home to begin her career in finance, fitness became an important…
South Side Pitch 2026
4th Place
Chatham
Ehmage
Ehmage is a social media sharing platform that connects entrepreneurs, artists, and creators with everyday social media users who promote them online, allowing anyone with at least 250 followers to earn money by sharing…
South Side Pitch 2026
5th Place
2026 Judges and Keynote Speaker
Bo Kemp
Judge
Bo Kemp is the Chief Executive Officer of the Southland Development Authority and Venture Partner at Caelum Ventures. Bo brings over 25 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, and government consulting. In his role as the CEO of the Southland Development Authority, Bo manages the economic development and revitalization of 45 municipalities in the South Suburbs of Chicago. His career began in finance at Morgan Stanley and TSG Capital Group, followed by a pivotal role as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Newark, and as Senior Director of Public and Private Partnerships at Faegre Drinker LLP.
Shannon McGhee
Judge
Shannon McGhee is the Chief Executive Officer at SEED SPOT where she leads the organization to accelerate and invest in underrepresented founders creating solutions to social and economic challenges. Shannon is a seasoned nonprofit and civic leader with deep experience in scaling programs, securing philanthropic support, driving earned revenue, and building cultures grounded in equity, innovation, and community impact. Before joining SEED SPOT, she held senior leadership roles at mHUB Chicago managing multi-million dollar revenue streams and a team supporting hundreds of innovators.
Rashida Stevens
Judge
Rashida Stevens is Counsel of Employee Benefits at United Airlines where she advises the company on tax guidance, transactions and plan compliance for United’s 113,000 employees. Rashida has a decade long experience as an attorney in both private practice and higher education. Prior to joining United Airlines, she served as Associate General Counsel of Hampton University in Virginia. Prior to her legal career, Rashida was also a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG.
Wendy Walker Williams
Judge
Wendy Walker Williams is the Assistant Vice President for Community Partnerships and Impact in the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement and a Senior Executive on Loan to the Du Sable Museum of Black History and Education Center. Wendy ensures community stakeholders are informed and engaging in UChicago’s core areas of civic engagement work, including but not limited to support for local entrepreneurship, community safety, and neighborhood development. Before joining the University of Chicago, Wendy was the Executive Director of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC), a nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life in the Kenwood, Oakland, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and Washington Park communities.
Marquinn Gibson
Keynote Speaker
Marquinn Gibson is the Owner of 7323 Chicago Café, the 2nd Place, Community Favorite, and Rustandy Social Impact Winner of South Side Pitch 2024.
Thank You to this Year’s Coaches!
Trisha Beltrán
Founder of JMB Systems & Strategy
Averil Edwards
Managing Counsel at United Airlines
Myeisha Grady
Speech Instructor at Morton College & former Business Advisor at the Women’s Business Development Center
CJ Harris
Creative Director & CEO of That’s So Creative, LLC and 3rd Place Winner in South Side Pitch 2022
Larvetta Loftin-Arnold
Founder & Relationship Officer at The L3 Agency
Isra Omar
Senior Assistant Director & SBDC Advisor at Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Lissette Perez
Program Associate at Joliet LEDA
Anahi Rodriguez
Intern at Joliet LEDA
Alondra Valdovinos
Administrative Assistant at Joliet LEDA
J. Vincent Williams
Executive Director at Entrepreneurial Development and Leadership Institute
Bruce Wilson
Private Equity Associate at Adams Street Partners
