Save Your Seat for the 12th Annual South Side Pitch!
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. This year the competition will not be live streamed so make sure to save your seat before spots run out!
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.
*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’s Judges and Keynote Speaker
Amor Montes de Oca
JudgeAmor is the Strategic Initiatives Program Manager at mHUB, where she designs, plans and executes special projects and strategic initiatives focusing on climate, clean energy and manufacturing readiness. She previously served as the Executive Director of Illinois Women in Cannabis, a non-for-profit dedicated to advancing women in the state’s regulated cannabis industry through networking, education, and mentorship. As a co-founder and former Director of Strategic Initiatives for 2112, Chicago’s first incubator for creative entrepreneurs, she created impactful programming, raised capital, and developed advanced professional development initiatives for members.
Terrence Johnson
JudgeTerrence is the Executive Director of Greenwood Archer Capital, where he leads their mission of making capital that is usually unavailable more accessible to entrepreneurs looking to grow startup and established small businesses in under-resourced communities. Before Greenwood Archer Capital, Terrence spent a 25-year career in public service and the private sector. Terrence worked in the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development’s Incentives Division and brings years of experience at Harris Bank, Prudential Mortgage Capital Co., and PWC, where he helped entrepreneurs gain access to the financial resources and information they needed.
Britney Robbins
JudgeAs a social entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of The Gray Matter Experience, Britney is committed to investing in Black communities through access, education, and innovation — harnessing humanity’s collective powers to create ever-evolving paths forward. As a catalyst for social change, she leverages entrepreneurial values to maximize opportunities for economic inclusion. Britney has partnered with some of the city’s top venture capital firms and incubators to propel the futures of start-up founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and youth. Her organization, The Gray Matter Experience has connected over 1,000 black youth to opportunities that propel their futures forward, serving as the paramount blueprint for entrepreneurship education across the country.
Richard Jones
JudgeRichard Jones is a Senior Manager in Airport Operations and Supplier Performance (GAT) with United Airlines. Richard manages a specific supplier’s performance throughout United Airlines for every line of service it provides. He also helps introduce United Airlines to new lines of service.
Jamhal Johnson
Keynote SpeakerJamhal Johnson is one of the co-owners of Moor’s Brewing, Co. and 1st Place Winner, South Side Pitch 2022.
Thank You to this Year’s Coaches!
Lauren Amos
Managing Partner at DSGNRZ LLC
Myeisha Grady
Business Advisor at the Women’s Business Development Center
Tasha Brown
Midwest Director at Small Business Majority
Larvetta Loftin
CEO/Founder of the L3 Agency
Jasmine James
SBDC Business Advisor at Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation
Isra Omar
Senior Assistant Director at Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
CJ Harris
Creative Director and CEO of That’s So Creative, LLC and 3rd Place Winner in South Side Pitch 2022
Dr. Ebony Utley
Founder at Storytelling for Startups
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