Pitch Black Conference
A business Conference, Business Expo and Pitch Competition dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the Midwest
Presented by the Midlands African Chamber, Inc.
2026 Theme:
Empowering Visions. Fueling Success.
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APPLICATIONS OPEN - January 2nd, 2026
What is Pitch Black?
Pitch Black is a dynamic conference strategically crafted to fuel entrepreneurship across diverse communities in the Midwest. Our event showcases prominent speakers, a business exposition, and an exciting business pitch competition. The competition is specifically tailored to offer a platform for emerging BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) as well as immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas. Participants have the opportunity to compete for a grand prize of up to $15,000, complemented by invaluable in-kind support surpassing $40,000. This support extends to essential services such as marketing, legal, and accounting, providing crucial assistance for their ventures.
A groundbreaking initiative, Pitch Black, is committed to nurturing entrepreneurship and fortifying businesses. By facilitating connections between emerging entrepreneurs and potential investors, mentors, and essential resources, our conference strives to invigorate economic growth and champion diversity in the local economy.
We invite you to partner with the MAC and Pitch Black in championing entrepreneurship within black and minority communities in Nebraska and the broader Midwest. Your involvement as a business or community partner is crucial to realizing the success of this endeavor. Let's collaborate to make a lasting impact together.


04
Events since 2020
1200+
Attendees
20
Business Funded
$61.5k
In-kind prizes
$88.2k
Equity free Funding
Pitch Competition Eligibility
The conference is open to for-profit businesses in any industry that meets the following criteria:
How it works
Pitch Black 2026 Timeline
Events | Dates |
Launch | October 1st, 2025 |
Application Close | December 5th, 2025 |
Notification Date | January 9th, 2026 |
First Round | January 16th, 2026 |
Second Round | January 30th, 2026 |
Third Round | February 13th, 2026 |
Meeting: Finalists’ Expectations & Agreements | February 27th, 2026 |
All Hands-on Prep 1 | March 13th, 2026 |
All Hands-on Prep 2 | April 10th, 2026 |
Ubuntu Mixer Date | May 1st, 2026 |
Pitch Black Finale | May 2nd, 2026 |
Prize Amounts
1st Place - $10,000
2nd Place - $5,000
3rd Place - $2,500
4th Place - $1,000
5th Place - $1,000
Investors' Pick - $5,000


Sponsors and Partners
Tickets
Individual Ticket – Members
Individual Ticket – Non Members
Contact us
For sponsorship, partnership, volunteer opportunities, and other inquiries, please use the contact form below.