Andrew Wimer
Andrew Wimer · September 24, 2024

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CHICAGO—Five South Side businesses will compete on October 17 in the finals of the 11th annual South Side Pitch, hosted by the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship. The competition will again be held at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Hyde Park. The five finalists below will compete in front of an energetic live audience of South Siders to win several prizes, for a combined total of over $36,000 in cash prizes.

  • Daniel’s Test Kitchen, a Bronzeville catering and pop-up restaurant company that also teaches cooking classes.
  • Econofi, a Hyde Park financial technology company that works to empower community banks and reach the unbanked. 
  • Inheirit, a Roseland company that works to expand access to estate planning. Inheirit qualified for the finals by receiving the most votes for their video and winning the People’s Choice Award.
  • Nappily Happy, a Bronzeville organic haircare brand that is embracing Afro-textured hair.
  • 7323 Chicago Café, a Woodlawn seasonal outdoor eatery in a shipping container working to expand its model.

South Side Pitch allows incredible entrepreneurs to share their origin stories and their vision for the future in a “Shark Tank”-style contest. The judges for the final contest are a panel of leaders in the business world, as well as the audience. Prior winners have used their prizes to expand their businesses and create new jobs. Last year’s first-place winner was R City Kitchen, a cooperative kitchen serving food entrepreneurs on the South Side.

Date/Time: Thursday, October 17, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. CDT

Location: Polsky Center, 1452 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

South Side Pitch is hosted by the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship, which is based at the University of Chicago Law School. The contest is 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. To learn more or RSVP, visit www.southsidepitch.com.

Members of the media can reach out to Andrew Wimer, IJ Media Relations Director, to attend or schedule interviews with the contestants in advance, [email protected] or (703) 298-5938.

The Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship provides free legal assistance, access to resources and advocacy for low-income Chicago entrepreneurs. To learn more about the IJ Clinic, visit www.ij.org/clinic.