May 17, 2025 | 2pm -5pm

What is Sunshine Enterprises’ Pitch Competition?

Sunshine Enterprises supports small business owners in underinvested communities at our highly anticipated annual Pitch Competition! Over the past nine years, our event has attracted hundreds of attendees, either participating in person, via Zoom or tuning in through Facebook Live.
Every year, our Community Business Academy alumni are invited to participate in the competition. Once finalists are selected, they are paired with a mentor to refine their pitch for the competition. The finalists then present their pitch in-person to a panel of judges for a chance to win a share of over $20,000 in cash prizes.

Since 2016, Sunshine Enterprises has awarded over $70,000 in cash plus prizes.

About Sunshine Enterprises

Since 2013, we have helped rising entrepreneurs throughout Chicagoland, start or grow businesses by training, coaching, and connecting them. Our mission is to empower high-potential entrepreneurs living in under-resourced neighborhoods, to grow their business and transform their communities.

OUR APPROACH
• Training: Practical business management training, in English and Spanish, using a rigorous adult-participatory learning model
• Coaching: Providing expert coaching in operations, marketing, access to capital, and more
• Connecting: Creating and fostering networks that lead to social, intellectual, and financial capital such as mentoring network between industry experts and entrepreneurs

Prizes

Award amounts are subject to increase based on final sponsorship contributions.

Details

Sunshine Enterprises' annual pitch competition is open to our Community Business Academy alumni.
To participate in the competition, alumni must submit a video of their pitch by the designated deadline.
Feedback will be given on every submitted video.
Every finalist gets paired with a mentor.
Cash prizes are awarded to the top 3 finalists, in-kind prizes given to all finalists.

Coming soon - Apply Today