This registration page may not work well in Internet Explorer. Please use a different browser to complete your registration.

The BIG Pitch Competition

February 21, 2026 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CST)

Description

Pitch Competition Overview: The 1st Annual AABA Big Pitch Competition will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Registration and Submission deadline is Wednesday, February 11th at 11:59 p.m.

The BIG Pitch Competition provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses, products, and services that are measurable, have the potential for commercialization and scalability, and fill a need that solves real problems in the marketplace. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three highest-rated finalists in the competition. The first prize is $5,000!

There are two rounds:

1. The initial submission (Completed electronically via our online judging platform Judgify. The link will be sent after registration. If you do not submit documentation here, your business will not be considered.)

2. The final round (In-person only on Saturday, February 21, 2026)

After the initial submission deadline ends, all entries will be judged, and up to 10 finalists will be identified and notified via email that they have been selected to pitch live and in person during the final round.

To enter, you must submit the following to Judgify (once registration is complete):

  1. One 30 Second Intro Video
  2. One 3-Minute PITCH video
  3. One high-resolution headshot
  4. A 10-Slide Pitch Deck (PowerPoint Presentation, see below)

By the close of business on Wednesday, February 11th, at 11:59 p.m., finalists will be notified that they have been selected to pitch on Saturday, February 21, 2026. 

Finalists MUST give their pitches in person - there will be no virtual finalists.

There will be no walk-up entries on the day of the live pitch! All entries must have gone through the first round judging process.

PITCH COMPETITION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Annual Conference Ticket Purchase and Registration are required for Entry

After you have completed registration for the Pitch Competition, you will receive a link to the competition platform 

Once all of your items have been submitted, our team of judges will have access to view your pitch.

Finalists will have three minutes to give their pitch.

The Pitch Deck will include the following slides in this order:

  1. Title: Business name, logo, and tagline
  2. Problem: What unique problem are you solving for your customers?
  3. Solution/Key value proposition: How are you providing a real solution to your customer?
  4. Product or Service Description: Provide an overview of your product, including the Kingdom Impact (How you do business while doing good).
  5. Customer acquisition strategy: Who is your target market, and what is your go-to-market strategy (how do you plan to secure customers)?
  6. Market size: How big is your addressable customer market?
  7. Competition: How are you different from other companies serving your customers' needs?
  8. Business model: Explain how your business makes money.
  9. Timeline to profitability and how you will scale the business (Include how much you need to execute your plan and how you will use the prize money if you are a winner.)
  10. The founding team and advisors


Time

Location

Renaissance Center

Pricing

Annual Conference Ticket Purchase and Registration are required for Entry

View Event

Contact Information

Name: African American Business Association of Will County
Phone: (779) 707-0778
Email: info@aabaconnect.org

Once registered, you will receive a link to the PITCH competition platform. Create a login and password and upload the competition requirements. The submission platform will allow you to save a draft.

However, your entry must be submitted on the competition platform by Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST.

REMINDER: You must be a registered attendee of the annual conference to participate

We're sorry. No registrations are currently available. You may wish to contact the event organizer for assistance.
{{ vm.EventInfo.ErrorMessage }}

Select Registration Options

Edit
{{vm.regWarningMessage}}
{{vm.regAlertMessage}}

Exhibitor Opportunities

Name Price Att Qty
{{ et.Name }}
{{ et.IncludedAttendeesCount }} {{ et.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType }} Remaining {{ et.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} on Waiting List {{ et.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} Over Limit
{{ et.Remaining }} Remaining
 Sold out

Attendee Registration Options Total Remaining: {{ vm.EventInfo.VacantSpotsPerEvent }}

Waiting List Available
{{ vm.stats.totalAttendeesCount }} Registered , {{ vm.OverallOverAmount() }} on Waiting List , {{ vm.OverallOverAmount() }} Over Limit
Name Price Qty
{{ rt.Name }}
{{ rt.IsMemberOnly ? ' (Members Only)' : '' }}
Limit: {{ rt.LimitPerPurchase }}
Included Attendees: {{ rt.AttendeesCountPerOneRegistration }}
{{rt.Price | currency }} {{rt.PriceAfterDiscount | currency }} {{ rt.Price | currency }}
{{ rt.RemainingPerType }} Remaining
{{ rt.RemainingPerType * -1 }} on Waiting List
{{ rt.RemainingPerType * -1 }} Over Limit

{{'[[Sponsorship]] Opportunities' | localizeString:'['}}

Name Price Att Qty
{{ st.Name }}
{{ st.IncludedAttendeesCount }} {{ st.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType }} Remaining {{ st.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} on Waiting List {{ st.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} Over Limit
{{ st.Remaining }} Remaining
 Sold out
Continue

Registration Information

Edit

Exhibitor - {{er.Name}}

Exhibitor #{{ $index + 1 }}

Total: {{exhibitor.TotalPrice | currency}} {{ exhibitor.IsBenefit ? "- Included as a Benefit" : exhibitor.IsDiscounted ? "- Discounts have been applied" : ""}}
Exhibitor Directory
Primary Contact
Booth Information
Additional Information
Additional Items

Attendee - {{er.Name}}

{{ att.getAttendeeTerm(vm.EventSettings.AdditionalAttendeesTerm, $index) }} #{{ att.getAttendeeIndexDisplay(vm.EventSettings.AdditionalAttendeesTerm, $index) }}

Total: {{att.TotalPrice | currency}} {{att.DiscountMessage | localizeString:'['}}
A No Show fee is being assessed for {{fee.EventName}} on {{fee.EventStartLocalTimeString}}.
More Information Less information

Address

Phone

Additional Information
Event Sessions

{{slot.Name}}

{{$select.selected.SessionName}}
(full)
{{slot.SelectedSession.SessionDescription + (slot.HasFees ? " (Price: " + (slot.PriceTotal | currency) +")" : "")}}
Additional Items

{{'[[Sponsorship+]]' | localizeString:'['}} - {{er.Name}}

{{'[[Sponsor]]' | localizeString:'['}} #{{ $index + 1 }}

Total: {{sponsor.Price | currency}}
Continue

Additional Items

Edit

{{(vm.EventInfo.Terms.Donation || "Fundraising") + " Opportunities"}}

Campaign Name Item Description Amount
{{item.CampaignName}} {{item.Description + (item.ShowMinimumPrice && item.MinimumPrice ? " (Min: " + item.MinimumPrice + ")" : "")}}
Continue

Complete Registration

Edit

Terms & Conditions

No Show Policy

{{ vm.EventInfo.EventSettings.NoShowPolicy }}

Enter Promo Code

Billing Contact

Registration Protection
This event is synced to a webinar so no confirmation email will be sent from GrowthZone.

Thank you to our {{'[[Sponsor+]]' | localizeString:'['}}