CJ Harris Coaches at South Side Pitch 2025: Empowering Local Entrepreneurs
This October, the 12th annual South Side Pitch (SSP) took place in Chicago, a “Shark Tank‑style competition” organized by the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship (IJ Clinic) at the University of Chicago Law School. The event highlights Chicago’s South Side entrepreneurs and invites small businesses to pitch their vision to win part of a $36,000+ prize purse. (Institute for Justice)
As a woman- and minority-owned creative agency, That’s So Creative (TSC) has long been rooted in Chicago’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This year, CJ Harris, TSC’s Creative Director and a former South Side Pitch finalist, returned as a coach for the competition’s finalists.
Drawing on her experience, CJ mentored participants on how to effectively present their business stories, from refining their message and delivery to structuring their pitch strategy and communicating with confidence.
Why the South Side Pitch Matters
The competition embodies the values that drive TSC’s work: community, creativity, and opportunity. SSP has awarded more than $253,000 and been involved with over 1,100 businesses in its history. It offers entrepreneurs in underserved neighborhoods the chance to elevate their business visibility, hone their branding, and connect to resources beyond the competition floor.
2025 Finalists & Winners
Congratulations to this year’s finalists, each reflecting the kind of high-impact, values-driven entrepreneurship that TSC champions:
- Runaway Cow (Bridgeport) – 1st Place
- ChiBrations (Canaryville) – 2nd Place & Community Favorite
- Ahead Academy (Bronzeville) – 3rd Place
- Framewrks (Bronzeville) – 4th Place
- Tawney Coffee (Brighton Park) – 5th Place
These names emphasize authentic entrepreneurship, creative identity, and community revitalization.
TSC’s community-first approach means we are equipped to support small businesses, nonprofits, and foundations with budget-sensitive creative marketing and are now likewise positioned to support startups and mid‑size companies that need a full-service creative marketing agency in Chicago or beyond.
How This Reflects the Broader TSC Mission
Two core pillars come to life in this partnership:
- Community & Impact: TSC remains committed to supporting the South Side entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Growth‑Oriented Creativity: From small business branding to startup strategy and mid-market campaigns, TSC delivers data-driven creative solutions that fuel measurable growth across design, content, and digital marketing.
Looking Ahead & How to Stay Connected
For companies seeking a Chicago creative and marketing agency with deep local roots and a growth-centric mindset, TSC offers a differentiated proposition: strategic alignment with community impact, combined with performance-focused creative solutions.