WHAT: Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator, will host the New Venture Challenge, a startup pitch competition that will bring together students, entrepreneurs and community members to showcase innovative business ideas, compete for prizes and connect with potential investors. The event is free and open to the public.

WHEN: Thursday, April 25 - The business expo will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The main event, including pitch presentations and a keynote address, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Student Union, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield

DETAILS: The New Venture Challenge is designed to accelerate entrepreneurial growth in central Illinois. The event will feature five-minute pitch presentations from local entrepreneurs, a business expo showcasing innovations from UIS students, Sangamon CEO, Tech X and community startup founders, as well as a keynote address. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions with expert judges and engage in networking opportunities throughout the day.

This year’s event brings together the Sangamon CEO Shark Tank, Innovate Springfield’s Demo Day and the Cozad New Venture Challenge from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Innovate Springfield has been working for more than a decade to foster entrepreneurship in the region by supporting business development, providing mentorship and connecting startups with critical resources.

Early registration is encouraged. For more information, contact innovatespringfield@uis.edu.