Five South Side Businesses Selected for Finals in Pitch Showcase

CHICAGO—Five South Side businesses will compete on October 15 in the finals of the 13th 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 $40,000 in cash prizes.

• Ehmage, Chatham, Content-Sharing & Monetization Platform *People’s Choice Award recipient on YouTube
• Mamma Jamma Dance, McKinley Park, Maternal Wellness & Dance-Based Support
• Vash Beauty Labs, McKinley Park, B2B Beauty Product Formulation
• South Side Sweats, Chatham, Community Fitness Club and Apparel
• Nitro Nostalgia Ice Cream and Board Game Café, Bronzeville, Ice Cream & Board Game Café

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. Last year’s first-place winner, Runaway Cow, a vegan ice cream parlor in Bridgeport, used its winnings to purchase new kitchen equipment, expand the parlor’s offerings and supply its delicious treats to restaurants across the Chicago area.

Date/Time: Thursday, October 15, 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. The contest is sponsored by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, United Airlines, and the Coleman Foundation. 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 ij.org/clinic.