9th Annual Pitch Battle and Summer Party

Jul 24, 11:00 PM – Jul 25, 2:00 AM (UTC)

Chicago

Workbox Chicago - The Loop, 125 South Clark Street, Chicago, 60603

Join us for the biggest party of the summer and the most unique pitch competition ever held, live from Workbox LOOP!

In-person event
PartyPitch Battle

Get tickets

About this event

It's baaaaack! Want to up the energy of your TechChicago Week experience? Startup Grind Chicago is proud to bring you the 9th Annual Summer Launch Party, featuring THE most unique pitch competition you've ever seen.

We've once again partnered with Startup World Cup as an official World Cup Regional Semifinal to raise the stakes of our pitch battle.

Plus - Food, drinks, and live DJ'ing from DJ Don Khaitan.

It's a night of great community vibes, great times, and the world's greatest pitch competition.

COMPLETE YOUR PITCH APPLICATION HERE


HOW IT WORKS:

  • We're selecting up to 8 startups to pitch on stage.

  • All attendees get $1,000 of fake money at the door.

  • Each startup gets 3 minutes to pitch with NO slides, followed by Q&A from our judges panel.

  • After all the startups have pitched, the founders have 10 minutes to go into the crowd and try to secure YOUR 'investment'! You decide how you'd like to dole out your fake money. Whoever has 'raised' the most money after the 10-minute scramble is declared the winner!

  • The winning startup wins a cash prize, a championship belt courtesy of CodeLaunch, and entry into the Startup World Cup Final on October 17th in Silicon Valley for a shot at a $1 million investment! Plus, global media coverage and other great prizes too.

JOIN US!

Who: Founders, Co-founders, Team Members & Startup Enthusiasts

What: 9th Annual SG Chicago Summer Launch Party

Where: Workbox LOOP location, 125 S. Clark Street

When: Thursday, July 24th, 6:00-9:00 pm CDT


This is an official TechChicago Week partner event.


Event Sponsored by CodeLaunch, the equity-free accelerator providing software development, a massive pitch stage, exposure to hundreds of investors and stakeholders, and the opportunity to win capital investment -- all for FREE -- all wrapped into a Venturetainment spectacle.

Apply for the CodeLaunch USA regional today (application deadline July 6)



WHAT IS THE STARTUP WORLD CUP?

Startup World Cup is a prestigious global conference and competition designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing together startups, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and top-tier technology CEOs from around the world. Organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, the competition features over 100 regional events across six continents, culminating in a Grand Finale held in San Francisco.

Startups participating in the regional events compete for a chance to win a spot in the Grand Finale, where they then compete for a $1,000,000 investment prize. This prize can significantly boost their ventures through financial support and global recognition. The event also offers ample opportunities for networking, corporate partnerships, and insights from industry experts, making it a comprehensive platform for startups to accelerate their growth and impact.

For more information, visit the Startup World Cup official website.

Judge

  • Jason W. Taylor

    CodeLaunch

    President & Founder

When

When

July 24 – 25, 2025
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM (UTC)

Agenda

Doors Open & Community Networking
Welcome from Startup Grind, CodeLaunch, & Startup World Cup
Pitch Battle
The Scramble
Count the Money!
Winner Declared & Afterparty
Keep the Party Going!

Host

  • Rajiv Nathan

    Startup Grind Chicago / Startup Hypeman

    Chapter Director / Founder

Organizers

  • Rajiv Nathan

    Startup Grind & Startup Hypeman

    Director

  • Sid Khaitan

  • Sid Khaitan

    Head of Community

  • Julia Bauer

    Event Coordinator

Global sponsor

Google Cloud logo

Google Cloud

Gold

CodeLaunch logo

CodeLaunch

Partners

Startup World Cup logo

Startup World Cup

System Seltzers logo

System Seltzers

Startup Hypeman logo

Startup Hypeman

About Startup Grind

This is Startup Grind. We are the world’s largest startup community.

Our Mission

To give startups everywhere the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies.

Our Values

We believe in making friends, not contacts. We believe in giving first, not taking. We believe in helping others before helping yourself.

Tools & Discounts for Startups

Take advantage of resources and offers provided by organizations we know and love, designed to help you navigate the startup journey.

Global Conference

Our annual flagship event in Silicon Valley brings together thousands of startup teams, investors and organizations from all over the world.

Join the Startup Membership

This membership gives you free access to networking, events, mentorship, office hours, and other exclusive opportunities curated by Startup Grind HQ.