Drumroll, Please! Naturally Chicago Salutes RMBR and Vitaminis — Our 2026 Winning Pitchers
RMBR Kombucha Co-Founder Jack Joseph delivers the winning pitch at Naturally Chicago's Pitch Competition and Innovation Forum on May 27. Photo by Bob Benenson/Naturally Chicago
Naturally Chicago sends its warmest congratulations to the winners of our 2026 Pitch Competition: RMBR Kombucha, represented on stage by Co-Founder Jack Joseph, and Vitaminis, represented by Founder Leslie Danford.
They will share in a prize package of business services valued at more than $150,000.
The Pitch Competition and Innovation Forum was held for the second consecutive year before a sellout crowd of more than 400 registrants at beautiful Venue SIX10 in Chicago's South Loop.
Leslie Danford of Vitaminis made a strong impression on the judges panel (from left): Joe Fulco of Fruitful Yield, Ivan Gutierrez of Tierra Negra, Noelle Wagner of PRESENCE, Simon Miles of Mondelez and Lead Judge Jeffrey SanFilippo of John B. Sanfilippo and Son nuts company. Photo by Bob Benenson/Naturally Chicago
The top two finishers strongly impressed the judges panel of industry experts with the quality of their products, the progress they have already made in the retail marketplace, and their potential to expand already established product categories.
RMBR puts a flavor-first approach to kombucha, appealing to consumers who already like kombucha but are looking for variety, and others who have been put off by the astringent tang of traditional products. Their projected 2026 revenue of $1.2 million is almost six times higher than in 2022, when the startup first sold to food service accounts.
Jack Joseph and wife Kiara Tomirotti founded and run RMBR. The two met as students at Michigan State University.
RMBR founders Jack Joseph (center) and Kiari Tomirotti posed for a victory photo with Jeff Smith, the company's head of sales/logistics & distribution manager since 2022. Photo by Bob Benenson/Naturally Chicago
Vitaminis' mini-drinks provide a daily vitamin boost in a tasty, easy to consume liquid form. Their products are showing increasing appeal to buyers who want to supplement their nutritional input without pills or powders. (Their slogan is Sip Your Vitamins.)
After bringing in $250,000 in 2025 revenue, Vitaminis anticipates rapid growth to a total of $1.6 million this year and $3.8 million next year.
Leslie, a mom of four, spent a professional career in the investment, beverage and hospitality spaces before entering the CPG entrepreneur world with Vitaminis.
What makes their achievements even more impressive is that they finished a top a field of six superb competitors, all of whom impressed judges and attendees who turns the business-focused event into a cheering gallery.
Here is the official photo of the Pitcher Class of 2026 (from left): Michael Anagnos, Yaya’s Skordalia; Anna Baskin, High Tea Holding/Hightail; Leslie Danford, Vitaminis; Jack Joseph, RMBR; Gabe Huertas del Pino, Archway Pet; Matteo Caloia, (P)Rind.
Photo by Bob Benenson/Naturally Chicago
While the Pitch Competition is always the exciting centerpiece of this annual event, its value to attendees was amplified by expert commentary from panels on Retail, Omnichannel and Investment, a Fireside Chat between KeHE CEO Deb Conklin and Naturally Chicago’s Greg Keller, and the Innovation Showcase, at which founders of more than 20 rising star companies provided samples and stories about their products to an audience that included buyers and investors.
The Fireside Chat between KeHE CEO Deb Conklin and Greg Keller — Naturally Chicago’s senior strategist and lead of our Locally Made and Mentorship programs — was lively and informative. Photo by Bob Benenson/Naturally Chicago
We will be blogging and sharing in-depth coverage of all the elements in coming days. Naturally Chicago thanks all of the on-stage participants, attendees, Showcase brands, the awesome team at Venue SIX10, and Naturally Chicago staff and associates for making the event a great success.
