*Applications have closed*

Winners compete for up to $200,000 in service prizes

The Naturally Chicago Pitch Slam is the centerpiece of our Pitch Slam and Financing & Innovation Forum. It will be held June 2 on Michigan Avenue at VenueSIX10. The Pitch Slam prize package of business-building services has a value of nearly $200,000!

Tickets are now on sale for the natural products industry event of the year in Chicago. This is your best opportunity to meet established and emerging brands, investors, service providers, lenders, potential business partners and more. Speakers include Seth Goldman, founder of Honest Tea.

The founders who are pitching will connect with dozens of investors, retail and foodservice buyers, and industry leaders who will attend.

Our Competition is only open to Naturally Chicago Brand Partners. Criteria for competing brands:

Geographic Eligibility: 150 miles from Chicago

Revenue Requirement: Your brand must have annual revenue of at least $100,000 and not exceed $2,000,000.

Retail Partner: Your brand must have a retail partner (e.g., physical or online retailer distribution).

Membership: You must be an active Naturally Chapter (Brand) member at the time of submission.

Regional champions will face off for the prestigious Naturally Rising national title in a thrilling showdown judged by top industry leaders at Newtopia Now Trade Show in Denver, Colorado on August 20-22.

Itinerary

12:00 - 12:50 pm: Registration and Visit Innovation Showcase

1:00 - 1:05 pm: Welcome Amanda Puck, Master of Ceremonies

1:05 - 1:35 pm: Retailer Panel

1:35 - 2:00 pm: Foodservice Panel

2:00 - 2:45 pm: Break, Visit innovation showcase

2:45 - 3:55 pm: Pitch Slam

3:55 - 4:20 pm: Seth Goldman Keynote

4:20 - 4:40 pm: Pitch Slam Winners Announced

4:40 - 6:00 pm: Innovation Showcase and Fabulous Cocktails Reception

Pitch Slam Judges

Prizes valued up to $200,000 Await the Winners

  • Prize Donor: 1o8 Agency

    Brand Strategy package from this leading CPG agency, where creative meets commerce in driving omni-channel growth.

  • Prize Donor: Amin Wasserman Gurnani

    Total Prize Value: $2,500

    The 1st place winner will receive FDA labeling/packaging compliance review followed by a call up to 30 minutes to discuss questions and risk assessment for the winner’s top-selling product.

  • Prize Donor: Conlon Public Strategies

    Total Prize Value: $10,000

    Consulting package from a leading Chicago strategic advising and government relations firm.

    Winners will have the opportunity to choose one of the following two options: two executive coaching leadership sessions or an exploration of opportunities in the public sector, which is a $5,000 value.

  • Prize Donor: Fairfield Partners

    Total Prize Value: $12,500

    Winners will receive a New Hire Consulting Package from Fairfield Partners, a nationally recognized executive search firm specializing in the natural products industry.

    You'll get time with two of our Partners to discuss real-world hiring topics: how to make your first key hires count, what’s happening in the talent market, what competitive compensation looks like from Manager to VP and beyond.

    When you’re ready to hire a senior leader, you’ll have a $10,000 credit for a retained search with us.

  • Prize Donor: KeHE

    Total Prize Value: $5,000

    A brand assessment and strategy session with KeHE Distributors, the largest distributor of natural & organic, specialty and fresh products throughout North America.

    The session will take place with KeHE’s Category Management leaders who will support the brand in developing their launch plan and distribution go-to-market strategy.

  • Prize Donor: Polsinelli

    Total Prize Value: $6,000

    Legal services from this premier full-service national law firm with expertise in representing Food, Beverage and Consumer Product brands and investors.

    Two prizes at $3,000 each will be awarded.

  • Prize Donor: Presence Marketing

    Total Prize Value: $7,500

    The pioneering broker in the Natural Products industry, Presence — a co-founder of Naturally Chicago — has been helping brands get shelf space, prosper and grow for more than 30 years.

    Presence Market Ready (1 Month) 8 Sessions valued at $7,500

  • Prize Donor: SIKICH

    Total Prize Value: $10,000

    1st Place & 2nd Place both: Accounting experts will review your accounting and finance operations with you over a 1 ½ hour session and deliver an in-depth report outlining current operational pain points and recommendations on how to improve your processes.

    -AND- (1st place only) Accounting or Financial Advisory Services valued at $5,000 from Sikich, a leading natural products accounting, finance and technology consulting firm.

  • Prize Donor: SRW

    Total Prize Value: $20,000

    Social Media Content and strategy sessions from this leading Natural Products digital agency.

    The 1st place finisher will go tete-a-tete for an hour with the co-founders of SRW to talk business strategy. Share your biggest problems, dreams and goals and learn from the lessons they cultivated while launching brands such as Simple Mills and Vital Proteins.

  • Prize Donor: Whole Brain Consulting

    Total Prize Value: $9,000

    1st and 2nd Place will receive $4,500 of services from this natural products industry leader in food safety compliance, co-manufacturing strategies, operations, and logistics management.