Get ready for Kaplan Institute’s biggest event of the year! The Kaplan Pitch Tank is where Illinois Tech’s brightest startups go head-to-head, pitching their groundbreaking ideas to compete for an investment of $50,000. This year, the Competition will take place on April 24, 2026 from 12:30−4:30 p.m. at the Kaplan Institute. This isn’t just a competition—it’s a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the power of bold ideas. Your startup must be in Phase 3:Accelerate in order to be considered to pitch in the competition.

👉 Reserve your spot now and join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and celebration! https://www.tickettailor.com/events/kaplaninstitute/2021090

Why Attend?

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.

Keynote Speaker: Linxin Wen

IIT alum Linxin Wen shares his remarkable journey from arriving as an immigrant student with little to no resources to building a business with $4 billion in annual transactions. In his talk, he explores how courage, initiative, and the ability to create opportunities where none seem to exist can empower entrepreneurs to forge their own path and shape their future.

Meet the startups:

• CRIO Systems builds DrainWatch, a low-cost, real-time sewer monitoring platform that helps cities predict and prevent urban flooding, protecting vulnerable communities while enabling data-driven, climate-resilient stormwater management.
• Ditto is a cutting-edge AI visualization platform that creates high-quality vector graphics and pushes the frontier of AI design by eliminating diagram hallucinations.
• Pedal to the Future is designing an adjustable bike-frame cushion that improves rider comfort and independence by gently positioning the legs away from the center frame, offering a safer, more supportive alternative to straps and harnesses.
• Sunrise Studios creates games as social spaces that help teens rediscover community, build social confidence, and feel less alone in an increasingly isolated digital world.
• TaoRani crafts science-backed beverages with hormone-friendly ingredients, rooted in cultural wisdom and designed to make cycle balance simple, joyful, and accessible.
• Vitriform 3D transforms waste glass into luminous, high-performance architectural surfaces that blend sustainable impact with refined design.
• Wura Meals is an African meal prep and delivery brand that ships afro-fusion meals across the United States.
• NeuroKind is building a better mental health system for neurodivergent minds through faster diagnosis, more accurate screening, and AI-powered support.

Also get a chance to enroll with Talon, the AI-powered job connector and career platform at Illinois Tech designed to help students discover employers and find career opportunities!