Naturally Rising Pitch Event and Innovation Forum — 5/27/26 Live Event

Laura Gardner, founder/CEO of Local Style Chips, was a finalist in Naturally Chicago’s 2025 Naturally Rising Pitch Event and Innovation Forum. Photo by Bob Benenson

Naturally Rising/Naturally Chicago Pitch Event & Innovation Forum

Wednesday, May 27, 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago

Naturally Chicago's biggest annual gathering — the Naturally Rising Pitch Event and Innovation Forum — returns on Wednesday, May 27. The Pitch is the event's centerpiece, and will feature six competitively selected founders of rising-star natural products companies who will vie for shares of a prize package of services with a total value of more than $100,000!

The semi-finalists will be announced at a Naturally Chicago Morning Mingle on April 9. Click here​ to register for the Mingle.

The first-place winner will compete in the national Naturally Network's Naturally Rising event​ against the pitch champions from the network's other 10 chapters.

And that's not all. Attendees will gain insights from industry experts on panels about retail, omnichannel and CPG investment. Deb Conklin, CEO of industry giant KeHE, is our Fireside Chat guest. And 20 or more emerging brands, selected from among Pitch applicants who did not make the finals, will share stories and products at the Innovation Showcase.

Here's the agenda for the event:

12:00 - 12:50 pm: Registration and Innovation Showcase

1:00 - 1:10 pm: Welcome Amanda Puck, Emcee

1:10 - 1:35 pm: Panel: Succeeding at Omnichannel

1:45 - 2:15 pm: Panel: Chicago — A Natural Products Retail Hotbed

2:15 - 2:45 pm: Panel: Investors in CPG

2:45 - 3:15 pm: Break/Visit Innovation Showcase

3:15 - 4:15 pm: Pitch Slam

4:15 - 4:45 pm: Fireside Chat featuring Deb Conklin

4:45 - 4:55 pm: Pitch Slam Winners Announced

4:55 - 5:00 pm: Closing remarks

5:00- 6:30 pm: Innovation Showcase and Fabulous Cocktails Reception

And here are the industry experts who will participate in our panels.

Chicago: A Natural Products Retail Hotbed

• Katie Paul, KeHE (moderator)

• Patricia Chinander, Love from USA Group

• Kim Coffin, Sprouts

• Margie Omastiak, Whole Foods Market

• Travis Reams, Meijer

• Alyssa Vescio, The Fresh Market

Succeeding at Omnichannel

• Aalap Shah, 108 Agency (moderator)

• Graham Edward, Instacart

• Kevin Nitz, Molson Coors

• Martina Prencipe, Amazon

• Zach Rogers, Fidelitone

Investors in CPG

• Mollye Santulli, Springdale Ventures (moderator)

• Bert Cohen, Clover Vitality

• Tracey Halama, Creekside Ventures

• Tyler Mayoras, Manna Tree

• Ryan Woody, SG Credit Partners

Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and information.