KENOSHA, Wis. – The Southeast Wisconsin Pitch Perfect competition brought the region’s brightest entrepreneurial talent center stage on November 12, 2025, at the newly opened Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC).
This premier pitch event marked a regional collaboration between the economic development organizations of Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties—uniting partners committed to identifying, elevating, and investing in startups shaping Wisconsin’s innovation economy.
After an exciting evening of pitches and networking, four standout startups took home top honors:
- First Place ($5,000): Tykr
- Second Place ($3,000): Sit By Me
- Third Place ($1,500): Offline Wine
- Audience Favorite ($500): Caregiver Compass
The finalists impressed a distinguished panel of judges, including Dana Guthrie, Managing Partner, Gateway Capital; Rob Davis, Vice President of Marketing, Nosco; Minna Dinh-Stuver, Senior Business Consultant, Chase for Business; Meg Sranske, Retired Executive, SC Johnson; and Jason Jacobsohn, Managing Partner, Propellent Ventures.
The event was made possible through the generous support of premier sponsor Chase, along with regional partners: Gateway Technical College, WWBIC, UW-Parkside, KABA, Tech Prize, RCEDC, WCEDA, Carthage College, WEDC, and the Wisconsin Technology Council.
“Pitch Perfect celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that’s driving growth and opportunity across Southeast Wisconsin,” said Kelly Armstrong President, Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. “The collaboration between our regional partners shows the strength of our innovation ecosystem and the incredible potential of the founders building the next generation of Wisconsin businesses.”
The Kenosha Innovation Center, part of the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, serves as a new hub for entrepreneurship, education, and collaboration. Hosting Pitch Perfect marked one of the first major events in the facility, setting the stage for many more to come.
About the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood
The Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, Inc., is a non-profit organization led by a volunteer board of directors composed of local and regional leaders dedicated to fostering economic recovery, improving economic sustainability and resiliency, and ensuring equitable community access to prosperity through the development of the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN).
The KIN is the revitalization and transformation of 107 acres of vacant land in the heart of Kenosha as a collaborative, mixed-use project that is bringing the community together to define and deliver a regional destination with sustainable, innovation-focused office, medical, educational, commercial, and residential space that meets the unique needs of neighbors, the broader Kenosha community, visitors, and end-users. Learn more about the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood at www.innovatekin.org.
