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.
2025 Theme:
Empowering Visions. Fueling Success.
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.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
WIN UP TO $15,000
Pitch Competition Eligibility
The conference is open to for-profit businesses in any industry that meets the following criteria:
How it works
2025 Timeline
January 2nd
February 7th
March 3rd
March 14th
March 28th
April 11th
April 25th
May 9th
June 13th
June 26th
June 27th
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
Sponsorship
Sponsoring Pitch Black and the MAC Xcelerator (MAC X) directly uplifts minority-owned businesses and underserved communities. Since 2021, these programs have empowered BIPOC entrepreneurs to turn ideas into thriving enterprises, providing mentorship, financial coaching, and pitch training.
Impact Highlights:
- Ital Vital Living: A mother-daughter owned juice shop expanded from 200 to 1,000 weekly units, secured funding, and opened a second location.
- Local Art Plug: The 2023 Pitch Black winner created opportunities for young artists, won multiple grants, and built partnerships.
- Caring Expertise Homecare: A Black woman-owned healthcare agency scaled operations to generate $1M in revenue in 2024.
In 2024, 79 small businesses participated, launching over 30 new ventures. Pitch Black finalists received $87,000 in funding, and the MAC Xcelerator provided 641 hours of technical assistance, with 82% of participants completing key business deliverables.
By sponsoring these initiatives, your organization fosters economic growth, cultural awareness, and empowerment while gaining visibility as a champion of community development. Join us in making a lasting impact.
Tickets
Individual Ticket – Members
Individual Ticket – Non Members
Table of 10 – Members
Table of 10 – Non Members
Contact us
For sponsorship, partnership, volunteer opportunities, and other inquiries, please use the contact form below.