CHICAGO—Last week, the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship (IJ Clinic)’s 11th Annual South Side Pitch declared InHeirit, an estate planning company, the first place winner with the help of a live audience. InHeirit, took first place among the five finalists from the more than 100 businesses that applied.
InHeirit was founded by Astin Hayes, Amanda Moutrage, and Rendel Solomon with the determination to disrupt the systemic gap in life organization and estate planning. InHeirit’s mission is reducing the reluctance to discuss death-related topics. Using thoughtful tech-enabled innovation, InHeirit aims to dispel common myths, disrupt the traditional legal pricing model, and ease uncertainties. The company plans to use its $14,000 in prize money to complete development and bring the first iteration of their platform to the community this fall.
“Southside Pitch is an opportunity for small business owners to be seen, be heard, and be supported by the community and beyond,” said InHeirit CEO and Co-founder Amanda Moutrage “For InHeirit, this win validates our mission to mitigate taboos around death planning and it confirms we’re on the right path. For me personally, this recognition fills my heart with gratitude.”
“Participating in South Side Pitch was phenomenal,” said InHeirit Co-founder Rendel Solomon. “The event was so well-run. It was our first pitch as a team, and we were honored to win. We are even more energized to bring InHeirit to the South Side community this fall!”
“We love working with entrepreneurs throughout the year, because they apply all of their ingenuity and experience to build something new in their communities. South Side Pitch captures that dynamic spirit of entrepreneurship in exciting, inspiring 3-minute pitches, one of which was even in rhyming verse,” said Beth Kregor, director of the IJ Clinic. “This year’s contestants shone bright as leaders who build what they want to see on the South Side.”
In addition to the grand prize, this year’s South Side Pitch awarded cash prizes to all the participants.
2nd Place: 7323 Chicago Café $9,000
3rd Place: Daniel’s Test Kitchen $6,000
4th Place: Econofi $3,000
5th Place: Nappily Happy $1,000
7323 Chicago Café also took home the $1,000 community favorite award determined by audience voting and won a special $2,500 award from the University of Chicago Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation for its work in the community to bring about positive social change.
The pitches by the finalists were made to a live audience and four esteemed judges: Amor Montes de Oca, Strategic Initiatives Program Manager at mHUB; Terrence Johnson, Executive Director of Greenwood Archer Capital; Britney Robbins, social entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of The Gray Matter Experience; and Richard Jones, Senior Manager in Airport Operations and Supplier Performance (GAT) with United Airlines. Prior to the event, finalists met with experienced business coaches to prepare and sharpen their pitches.
Moor’s Brewing Co-Founder & CFO Jamhal Johnson, from the 2022 winning team, welcomed the contestants. Johnson talked about the South Side of Chicago being home to notable leaders and innovators. He spoke directly to the finalists: “Entrepreneurship is more than just business. It’s about solving problems, creating opportunities, and uplifting communities …Your ideas matter. Your voice matters. Your business matters.”
The IJ Clinic, based at the University of Chicago Law School, empowers Chicago’s low-income entrepreneurs through free legal services, resources, and advocacy. This year’s contest was sponsored by United Airlines, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation.