How the Pitch Competition Works

Five pitches took place in each of the six categories across three evenings. A panel of judges drawn from community leaders selected one finalist in each category. The six finalists pitched again to the full audience, which voted on the winner.

Click on each of the tabs below to check out the presenters’ ideas, watch their pitches, and see judges in each category.

Accelerate 2021 winners

Grand Prize: $5,000 
Sara Kidner: Read Like Me Watch now>

Finalists: $2,000 each
Antwoine Washington + Michael Russell, MOCHA Gallery Watch now>
Abigail Poeske + Rachel Hosler, An Ecosystem of Innovators Watch now>
Laylah Allen + Ashley Welch, Project Coping Box Watch now>
Michelle Park, Project DeLight: Dark Night, Stars Bright Watch now>
Lisa Rose-Rodriguez, Planting Stems of Peace Watch now>

Technovation 2021 winner

$3,500 Jing Lauengco, OTHER BROWN GIRL Watch now >

Small Organization Solutions 2021 winners

Strategy & Design Package (valued at $4,000)
Abigail Poeske & Rachel Hosler, An Ecosystem of Innovators

Strategy & Design Package (valued at $1,000) each
Margot Nazari, Redefining Cleveland
Sara Kidner, Read Like Me
Patrick Hackett, The Cleveland Impact Awards
Laylah Allen & Ashley Welch, Project Coping Box
Jessalyn Boeke & Sarah Pottle, The Cleveland Linen Project
Jing Lauengco, OTHER BROWN GIRL

Watch the complete Finalist competition >

Check out the following media links to learn more about the presenters and their projects:

  • Sam Paredes and his Hackers Towards Perception project was featured in a Tri-C blog post. Read the post >
  • Lisa Rose-Rodriguez joined WKYC’s We The People to share her Planting Stems of Peace vision. See the spot >
  • Michelle Park shared Project Delight on WKYC’s We The People. See the spot >
  • The Cleveland Jewish News highlighted Accelerate and the 2021 winners. Read the article >
  • Sara Kidner, Jing Lauengco, and Lisa Rose-Rodriguez on the Sound of Ideas (segment begins @14:50). Hear the interview >
  • FreshWater Cleveland interviewed Sara Kidner and highlighted the other Finalists. See the article >
  • WKYC chatted with Sara Kidner about her Accelerate-winning pitch. Watch the spot >