Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship

10/15/2026

THE 13TH ANNUAL SOUTH SIDE PITCH COMPETITION IS ON TONIGHT🏆

5 finalists will compete at the Polsky Exchange North Center in a shark-tank style pitching competition that highlights businesses on the South Side of Chicago. These 5 finalists will take home more than $42,000 in cash prizes!

A COUPLE SPOTS ARE LEFT; SAVE YOUR SPOT VIA THE LINK BELOW!

Save Your Seat for 13th Annual South Side Pitch! Every year, small businesses across the South Side of Chicago participate in South Side Pitch, sharing […]

10/08/2026

The 13th Annual South Side Pitch is now ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

RSVP now via the link below to celebrate and watch this year's finalists compete at the Polsky Exchange North Center in Hyde Park this Thursday, October 15th!

*By attending an IJ Clinic event, you understand you may be photographed, filmed or videotaped, and you authorize the IJ Clinic to take pictures and/or make recordings of you and grant it the perpetual right […]

10/02/2026

The 13th Annual South Side Pitch is two weeks away! RSVP now to celebrate and watch this year's finalists at the Polsky North Exchange on Thursday, October 15th!

RSVP via the link below!

*By attending an IJ Clinic event, you understand you may be photographed, filmed or videotaped, and you authorize the IJ Clinic to take pictures and/or make recordings of you and grant it the perpetual right […]

10/01/2026

Chicagoland founders! The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is now accepting applications for the Small Business Financial Fundamentals Program, a twelve-week intensive running January through March 2027 for South Side and West Side business owners.

The program offers tailored technical assistance and consultation on capital pathways and preparedness, business finance education, and one-on-one coaching.

Interested in applying? Go to the link below to check if you meet the eligibility requirements. The deadline to apply is Monday, November 9, at 3:00pm CST.

Build stronger financial management skills to help support and grow your business.

09/29/2026

Small business owners, a workshop dedicated to navigating how to plan the succession of your business is now only two weeks away!

Join us, Greenwood Archer Capital, and the UIC Law Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic, bringing together perspectives on both traditional and alternative approaches to business succession!

RSVP at https://greenwoodarchercapital.org/workshops-technical-assistance-2-1

📅 Tuesday, October 13
🕟 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 University of Chicago Law School | Room F

Greenwood Archer Capital’s Owners Table workshop Series connects entrepreneurs with practical tools, trusted resources, and peer insights to strengthen operations and make informed financial decisions. Led by experienced advisors and community partners, workshops focus on the skills needed to buil...

09/24/2026

Small business owners, have you thought about what happens to your business when you’re ready to step away? Well...now is your opportunity to learn how to plan ahead at Owners Table: Succession Planning, a seminar about the future of your business.

📅 Tuesday, October 13
🕟 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 University of Chicago Law School | Room F

Join us, Greenwood Archer Capital, and the UIC Law Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic, bringing together perspectives on both traditional and alternative approaches to business succession!

09/21/2026

We are excited to announce this year's finalists for the 13th Annual South Side Pitch!

Ehmage, Chatham, Content-Sharing & Monetization Platform
Mamma Jamma Dance & Maternal Wellness, 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 , Bronzeville, Ice Cream & Board Game Café

These finalists will compete and pitch to prestigious judges and a live audience to compete for cash prizes totaling above $40,000!

Save your seat for the live competition by going to southsidepitch.com!

Save Your Seat for 13th Annual South Side Pitch! Every year, small businesses across the South Side of Chicago participate in South Side Pitch, sharing […]

09/17/2026

While working in the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship this summer, Jacob Judd '26 and Kelly DeMatties '28 visited client Wild Blossom Meadery.

Wild Blossom's owner, Greg Fischer, provided an in-depth tour of the production facility, tasting room, and gardens, where he transforms honey produced by his bees into a wide variety of wines and beverages.

The better that students in the IJ Clinic understand their clients' businesses and the entrepreneurs' personal goals, the better advice they can provide about financing, licensing, real estate, staffing, supplier agreements, and more.

09/04/2026

Voting for the People’s Choice Award in the 13th Annual South Side Pitch is NOW OPEN!

To vote for your favorite semifinalists, click on the playlist below, and go press like on their video and comment the name of the neighborhood listed in their video. You are only allowed one like and one comment (vote) per video.

Voting for the People's Choice Award will close on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 11:59 pm CT.

Good luck to all the talented semifinalists this year!

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

08/25/2026

We'll be at BACP's final of 2026 this Saturday, August 29 from 8:30am to 1:30pm at Malcolm X College! Learn more about the Expo, and sign up to attend for free at Chicago.gov/BizExpo

To learn more about the Expos visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo