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Pitch Black 2026 is here and it's our 10th year!
Thursday, August 6, Chicago's boldest young founders ages 14 to 18 take the stage to pitch the businesses they've built this summer, live, in front of a room of judges, mentors, and supporters. On the line: $16,500 in cash across five funding tiers, plus a full year of wrap-around support — over $20,000 going straight to young entrepreneurs. Seats are limited.
Pitch Black Student Pitch Competition
After completing the ACCELERATE program, our innovators aged 14 to 18, can bring what they’ve learned to Pitch Black, our signature event for pitching business ideas rooted in community and social impact.
The ideas with the most promise in the marketplace are awarded cash prizes and a full year of wrap-around business support and mentorship. Beyond this, visionaries are empowered to bring their ideas to fruition with The Gray Matter Experience’s support and network of resources.
Take a look at our past pitch competition, which have included young innovators from industries ranging from non-profits to beauty, technology, and apparel. We are excited about what the future holds for our on-the-rise entrepreneurs.
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2025 Winning Innovations
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