The 7th Annual University Pitch Madness Chicago competition is where top student startups from DePaul University, University of Chicago, Michigan State University, University of Illinois System, University of Iowa,  Northern Illinois University, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Washington University in St.Louis will showcase their businesses. Attendees will vote for their favorite startup from each University and the winners will pitch their business in the finals for a chance to win up to $5,000 in prize money. (Student Only Competition)

Pitch Madness will take place on July 16, 2024 4:00 - 7:30PM CDT at DePaul's Holtschneider Performance Center (233 N. Halsted St Chicago IL, 60614). 

Applications are due June 26th. To access the participant form, please visit

https://forms.gle/nst27s911zRxhzoH8

If you are selected to compete, you will be given more details on the day's schedule.

1st place: $4,000

2nd place: $3,000

3rd place: $2,000

4th-10th place: $1,000 each

Additional Award: Audience Favorite $1,000

Eligibility Requirements:

Each team/company must fulfill the following criteria:

• • Less than $50,000 in revenue. 
  • Less than $50,000 in investment. 
  • Not incorporated for more than three years as of July 15, 2024. 
  • Teams do not need to be incorporated to enter the competition and will have 90 days after the competition to incorporate in order to accept prize money.
  • Non-profit and for-profit businesses are eligible, however, the criteria will be the same for all. 
  • All presenting students must be currently enrolled undergraduate students at a participating institution within the past 6 months. 
  • The award money finalists will be receiving is for business funding only, this is not a scholarship. Due to this, international students are not eligible to apply.
  • The presenting students must have a majority ownership of the business they are presenting. In other words, the students cannot be employees or agents of a company for which they are not founders. 
  • Presenting teams can consist of not more than two (2) undergraduate students. The actual company may have more team members, but no more than two can present in the competition.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathia Hernandez: kherna61@depaul.edu.