The BIG Pitch Fall 2025 | NIEU CBT BIG (Business Innovation and Growth) Center

Описание: This video features the Fall 2025 NEIU BIG Center Pitch Presentations, highlighting innovative, community-driven businesses led by Chicago-based entrepreneurs. Hosted by Northeastern Illinois University’s Business Innovation & Growth (BIG) Center, these pitches showcase early-stage ventures focused on economic empowerment, social impact, health, and neighborhood revitalization.

Each entrepreneur presents their business concept, market opportunity, revenue strategy, and growth vision, demonstrating NEIU’s commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship and community-centered innovation.

Pitch Participants & Businesses

🔹 Holly Belter — Integrated Coaching & Functional Healing
A holistic wellness-focused business offering coaching, nutrition guidance, and functional healing services. The model supports individuals seeking sustainable lifestyle changes through personalized care, education, and long-term wellness strategies.

🔹 Robin Bridges — Revolution Hub
Revolution Hub is a community-centered “third space” designed to address food apartheid in Chicago neighborhoods. The concept integrates a community kitchen, a grocery co-op, meal prep programs, education, and mutual aid, beginning on the South Shore with plans to scale citywide.

🔹 Valerie Blackman — Purple Heart Laundry Oasis
A modern laundromat experience centered on cleanliness, comfort, and community. Purple Heart Laundry Oasis offers high-efficiency machines, wash-and-fold services, pickup and drop-off options, and discounts for seniors and veterans, serving the South Shore community.

🔹 Jasmine Crayton — J29
J29 is an emerging business concept focused on entrepreneurship, brand development, and community-driven impact, representing the next generation of innovative small businesses supported through the NEIU BIG Center ecosystem.

🔹 Sonya Taylor — Taylor ORANGE
A digital marketing and website management service created for small and mid-sized restaurants. Taylor ORANGE helps business owners manage websites and social media systems affordably—giving them back time to focus on operations, not technology.

We extend our sincere thanks to our judges John Amundsen, Linda Del Bosque, and Ash Grant for their time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback. Your insights and support play a vital role in empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening the NEIU BIG Center’s mission to foster inclusive innovation and community-driven business growth.

0:00 Introduction
2:11 Holly Belter
11:59 Robin Bridges
23:21 Valerie Blackman
35:38 Jasmine Crayton
44:18 Sonya Taylor
58:25 Awards Ceremony