Kaplan Pitch Tank (Spring '25)

Get ready for Kaplan Institute’s biggest event of the year! The Kaplan Pitch Tank is where Illinois Tech's brightest student-led startups go head-to-head, pitching their groundbreaking ideas to compete for a prize pool of over $50,000. This isn’t just a competition—it’s a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the power of bold ideas.

• AI for Services is a solution that seamlessly integrates AI across the entire customer interaction lifecycle, offering precision, affordability, and adaptability for organizations of all sizes.

• AmbiCare is a service that streamlines patient handoffs with an AI platform, matching patients to hospitals based on availability and readiness, designed for EMS providers and hospital administrators.

• Biotics is creating a prosthesis that delivers smoother, more responsive movement with granular control over the knee and ankle joints, specifically designed for above-knee amputees with K2 or K3 mobility levels.

• Deleg8 is an app that helps students manage their time and reduce stress by automating calendar management, improving balance, and enhancing participation in both academic and extracurricular activities.

• RISE SOCIAL is a business that empowers women in Northern Ghana through basket weaving training and market access, promoting economic independence and cultural preservation while assessing the demand for socially impactful products and scalability.

• SiMat Tek is a solution that offers Si-based batteries with higher energy density, lower costs, and fast charging, overcoming the limitations of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles, electric aircraft, and drones, and supporting sustainable

• Vigil AI is a software that bridges the gap between CCTV coverage and crime prevention by transforming passive surveillance into an AI-powered system that analyzes video feeds in real-time, drastically reducing response times from hours to seconds.

🎤 Audience Choice Competition
Your vote matters! Upon arrival, you’ll receive a voting token to cast for your favorite startup. Spend 45 minutes exploring the startup exhibition room, meeting the founders, and hearing their stories before making your choice.

🏆 Finalist Pitches
Watch Illinois Tech’s top startups pitch LIVE to a panel of expert judges for their share of the $50,000 prize pool. Finalists will be announced soon—stay tuned!

🎙️ Special Keynote Speaker
Be inspired by a keynote address from a trailblazer in entrepreneurship or innovation. Speaker details coming soon!

🎉 Awards Ceremony
We’ll crown the winners, including the Audience Choice Winner and the top three startups:

• 1st Place: $30,000
• 2nd Place: $15,000
• 3rd Place: $5,000

🤝 Networking Event
Wrap up the evening with music, free food, and drinks at our networking event. Chat with the founders, judges, and fellow attendees in a relaxed atmosphere.

Kaplan Pitch Tank is more than just a competition—it’s your chance to:

• Witness the next big ideas in tech and entrepreneurship.
• Cast your vote for the Audience Choice Winner.
• Network with Illinois Tech’s innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss this thrilling showcase of innovation and creativity.

👉 Reserve your spot now and join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and celebration!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship—Tellabs Innovation Alley, 3137 South Federal Street, Chicago, United States